The UAE’s mobile services sector is poised for continuous growth throughout the decade, driven by increasing demand for high-volume data plans and the widespread adoption of 5G, transforming consumer and business mobile network usage.
New projections from analytics firm GlobalData indicate that UAE mobile service revenue will rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4% from 2025 to 2030. This growth is propelled by increased data consumption, despite a decline in traditional voice revenue.
GlobalData’s report, “UAE Mobile Broadband Forecast (Q3 2025),” highlights significant changes: mobile voice service revenue is anticipated to decrease at a CAGR of 4.1% as users increasingly opt for internet and app-based voice services. Conversely, mobile data service revenue is expected to grow robustly at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2025 to 2030, fueled by the rise of 5G and premium data plans.
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Telecom analyst Srikanth Vaidya from GlobalData notes that the average monthly mobile data usage per user in the UAE might jump from 12.9GB in 2025 to 35GB by 2030, driven by more video content, social media, and other data-intensive apps on smartphones.
By 2030, the report predicts that 5G will account for around 80% of all mobile subscriptions in the UAE, aligning with regional forecasts such as the Ericsson Mobility Report, which expects 5G penetration across GCC countries to reach up to 93% by the decade’s end.
Additionally, the growth of machine-to-machine (M2M) and Internet-of-Things (IoT) connections is shaping the broader telecom outlook. GlobalData forecasts M2M/IoT subscriptions in the UAE will increase from 4 million in 2025 to 6.7 million in 2030, as sectors like manufacturing and logistics increasingly utilize 5G-enabled IoT for automation and predictive maintenance.
Data from the UAE telecom market shows strong momentum, with a September 2025 report indicating that total mobile subscriptions reached 22.9 million by mid-year, marking an 8.5% year-on-year rise.
Leading this transformation is e& UAE (formerly Etisalat UAE). By Q3 2025, e& reported a 6.9% year-on-year growth in its subscriber base, reaching 15.7 million customers, attributed to robust demand for 5G, digital services, and enterprise solutions.
GlobalData views these developments as pivotal for the UAE mobile sector. As Vaidya states, “The UAE’s mobile market is entering a high-value phase where accelerating 5G adoption, rising data usage, and expanding IoT ecosystems will redefine operator revenue models.” Providers investing in advanced networks, enterprise solutions, and data-centric services are poised to capture sustainable growth.
This shift towards premium data and 5G services coincides with regional trends. A Nokia report recently forecasted that in the Middle East and Africa, 82% of mobile connections will transition to 4G or 5G by 2030, with 5G leading mobile traffic growth.
Analysts indicate the UAE’s mobile market is moving from a voice-centric model to one focused on data, digital services, and connected devices.
For consumers, businesses, and telecom operators, the upcoming years promise faster networks, enhanced data experiences, and a vast expansion of 5G-driven connectivity infrastructure.
