Leading telecommunications companies Middle East 2023, by brand value

As of 2023, the top six mobile telecommunication companies in the Middle East based on brand value were in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Of these six companies, two were in Saudi Arabia, STC Saudi Arabia and Mobily, worth 12.3 and 1.78 billion U.S. dollars, respectively. Etisalat and DU, from the United Arab Emirates, were valued at 10.46 and 2.2 billion U.S. dollars, respectively.

Mobile telecommunication market in the Middle East

The mobile telecommunications market in the Middle East is developing as in many parts of the world. The adoption of newer generations of mobile telecommunication technology is expected to more than double by 2025. The penetration rate of 5G technology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region was expected to reach almost 50 percent by 2030. In the coming years, the number of smartphone subscribers is expected to increase by around 80 million from 2022 figures. In the GCC, price and network quality were the main factors in a customer’s choice of a network provider.

Mobile communication and digitalization

Mobile data traffic in MENA is set to more than double by 2028. This surge in mobile data traffic is poised to revolutionize various sectors, from e-commerce and entertainment to healthcare and education, reshaping people’s way of life. In terms of the region's healthcare sector, telecom and mobile communications contribute to advancement in telemedicine services, health management terminals, and financial services. Saudi Arabia had the largest digital health industry in the GCC region with revenues of more than one billion U.S. dollars in 2024.