The “Humanoid – Hybrid Workforce for Industries” showcase highlights du’s seamless integration of cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, AI, IoT, machine learning, robotics, AI vision, and automation systems, marking a new era beyond traditional dark factories and warehouses, as stated by a top official.
Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO of du, emphasized that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) will become pivotal to the UAE’s knowledge-driven economy over the next five years.
“At GITEX Global 2025, du is presenting a comprehensive array of AI-driven initiatives under the theme “AI’s not just the future.” Du offers a full and distinct suite of solutions, from basic connectivity to advanced AI platforms,” Hassawi shared with BTR during an interview at GITEX Global.
Interview Highlights:
Fahad Al Hassawi
How do you anticipate innovation evolving in the UAE’s tech ecosystem, especially in ICT and AI, over the next five years?
Innovation will shift from being a distant goal to an immediate business driver. In five years, ICT and AI will become the backbone of the UAE’s knowledge-driven economy. At GITEX 2025, du is showcasing a fully integrated tech stack supporting the UAE’s data-driven economy vision. Du’s solutions range from foundational connectivity to advanced AI platforms, featuring robust 5G+ connectivity, liquid-cooled AI-ready data centers, a sovereign cloud ensuring data security, and a National Hybrid AI Platform for a seamless AI ecosystem.
Du’s strategic shift positions it as an AI partner rather than just a telecom provider, achieved through its integrated infrastructure and trusted capabilities. This helps organizations tackle challenges like inadequate AI infrastructure and computing power. Du’s stack enables effective AI applications, providing a competitive edge.
Enterprises and governments are now seeking partners to implement AI today, beyond just future discussions. This requires strong foundational infrastructure, which is why du has developed facilities like the Innovation Centre to support AI and machine learning applications.
With digital payments rising, what strategies is du using to enhance trust and security in transactions in the diverse UAE market?
Du’s cybersecurity and digital infrastructure strategy lays the foundation for secure digital transactions. We focus on building trust through intelligent connectivity and advanced digital infrastructure, ensuring scalable and secure AI adoption. Collaborating with Microsoft and DataRobot, we responsibly develop and deploy AI solutions.
Our integrated cybersecurity solutions with cloud technologies showcase our digital transformation capabilities. Du’s sovereign cloud infrastructure ensures compliance with UAE regulations, enabling secure, AI-driven decision-making, creating a secure backbone for financial transactions across diverse market segments.
At GITEX 2025, du is showcasing a fully integrated technology stack supporting the UAE’s vision of a data-driven economy.
How is du leveraging robotics to improve operational efficiency and customer experience in the UAE?
At GITEX 2025, du is showcasing humanoid robotics as part of our robust technology portfolio. We’re using robotics within intelligent infrastructure solutions to support various industry verticals, ensuring seamless integration between human and automated operations.
The “Humanoid – Hybrid Workforce for Industries” display illustrates du’s integration of advanced technologies like 5G, AI, IoT, machine learning, robotics, AI vision, and automation to push beyond traditional dark factories and warehouses. This exhibit features humanoid robots, exoskeleton assistive jackets, cobots with AI vision, ASRS, robot dogs, AI-powered intelligent bins, and hologram avatars, all unified through AI and IoT platforms.
This hybrid workforce benefits industries like retail nano fulfillment, aviation catering, postal services, and manufacturing, with real-world deployments for clients such as Union Coop, Unilever, EK Flight Catering, Al Shaya, and Emirates Post. Collaboration with partners like Unitree and Ericsson showcases how this human-AI workforce boosts productivity, enhances safety with exoskeletons, enables accurate storage operations, provides intelligent waste management, and delivers virtual customer service, improving efficiency while maintaining human oversight and reducing workplace injuries.
Du’s complete stack ensures effective AI applications, offering a competitive edge.
Can you give examples of how AI is used at du to drive growth and improve services?
Du implements AI extensively across its operations. Internally, AI-driven tools enhance efficiency, and we invest in skill development for AI, cloud, and cybersecurity. Our AI Video Analytics solution exemplifies AI use – it automatically analyzes videos for objects or actions, generates summaries, and supports natural language queries, enabling custom alerts and real-time decisions.
Our innovation labs prepare employees for future challenges and foster an AI-driven innovation culture. AI-powered maritime connectivity solutions exemplify how we’re transforming industry operations through intelligent automation.
What are the biggest challenges and opportunities in implementing AI and robotics in the UAE, and how is du addressing them?
The main challenge is moving from theoretical AI discussions to practical implementations. Organizations need partners that deliver immediate business impacts, not just future promises. Du is the UAE’s AI Strategic Partner, proving that while others speak of AI’s potential, we deliver solutions now.
The opportunity lies in the UAE’s AI-driven economy commitment. We’re uniquely positioned since successful AI adoption requires robust infrastructure and trusted partnerships, not just standalone solutions. Our approach includes intelligent connectivity, 5G Advanced networks, cybersecurity, and global tech collaborations.
Our support for digital government transformation through secure cloud services and compliance ensures AI-driven decision-making for government entities, bridging the gap between public and private AI adoption.
Du is showcasing humanoid robotics as part of our comprehensive technology portfolio at GITEX 2025.
How was 2025 for du and what is the outlook for 2026?
2025 was transformative for du, marking our evolution from a traditional telecom provider to the UAE’s AI Strategic Partner. We’ve launched a state-of-the-art Innovation Center, delivering practical AI solutions today.
Du’s expansion strategy achieved success with disciplined execution, financial management, and innovation, realizing 7.3% revenue growth year-over-year, surpassing the 5-7% target. Our market position strengthened with subscriber growth in mobile (8.9 million users, up 4.2%) and fixed services (682,000 subscribers, up 12.8%), boosting profitability with 11.6% EBITDA growth and a 44.2% margin, and net profit growth exceeding 49%.
As a challenger in the UAE telecom market, du now holds 33% of the fixed segment and nears 40% of the mobile segment through targeted B2B initiatives and innovative services like infinite plans for enterprises and exclusive postpaid plans for UAE nationals, showing our ability to create value propositions and diversify revenue beyond core connectivity.
For 2026, we aim to transform AI implementation from concept to reality, continuing to lead the UAE’s digital transformation through practical AI, robust infrastructure, and partnerships delivering immediate business value.
What new initiatives are introduced at GITEX Global? Please share details.
At GITEX Global 2025, du is showcasing AI-powered initiatives under “AI’s not just the future. With us, it shapes your next step today.”
Du unveils its flagship AI Park initiative – a 1.5-gigawatt data center to attract global AI companies and support a national AI ecosystem, aiming to create an “AI City” like Dubai Internet City, fostering innovation through sandboxes, accelerators, and government collaboration.
Du Tech highlights AI and cloud infrastructure, showcasing the National Hypercloud, sovereign AI solutions, and GPU-as-a-Service through partnerships with Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Oracle for government and enterprise AI workloads.
Du Business focuses on enhancing customer experience with end-to-end solutions powered by 5G and Fibre networks, improving communication efficiency and data-driven marketing for businesses.
Du Infra showcases advanced network infrastructure with 5G-Advanced tech and network slicing, particularly highlighting the “Future of Transportation” with connected vehicle systems, intelligent transportation networks, and real-time vehicle-to-infrastructure communication for mobility applications. Together, these divisions position du as the UAE’s AI Strategic Partner, offering practical, scalable AI solutions today. We provide proof points through live AI use cases, government collaborations, and real-world enterprise applications.
