UAE telecom operator du reported a 10.8 per cent rise in net profit for the first nine months of 2026, reaching Dh2.4 billion, as the company's expansion into data centres and cloud services began showing up in its bottom line. Total revenue for the period climbed 6.2 per cent to Dh12.3 billion, while service revenue grew 6.8 per cent to Dh9 billion.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose 9.2 per cent to Dh6 billion over the nine months, pushing the operating margin up to 48.7 per cent from 47.3 per cent a year earlier. In the third quarter alone, net profit reached Dh786 million, up 7.3 per cent year-on-year, on revenue of Dh4.1 billion, a 7.1 per cent increase.
Capital spending rose sharply, up 19.1 per cent to Dh1.68 billion for the nine-month period, reflecting continued investment in network and digital infrastructure. On the subscriber side, du's mobile base grew 3.3 per cent to 9.5 million, split between 2 million postpaid customers, up 6.4 per cent, and 7.4 million prepaid customers, up 2.5 per cent. Fixed-line customers rose 5.2 per cent to 756,000.
du's chief executive said the company's investments in data centres, cloud infrastructure and advanced connectivity were extending its role well beyond that of a traditional telecom operator, positioning it as a broader digital infrastructure player in the UAE market.