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The number of internet users in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) peaked in 2025, growing by nearly ** users over the previous year. Since 2015, the number of internet users in the country has consistently increased each subsequent year. The biggest increases were seen in 2017 and 2018, when the total number of internet users surged by *** and *** percent or ** and ** new users over prior years, respectively.

State of the internet in the UAE

The UAE has digitized much of its public and private services, and thus the country has invested heavily in telecommunications, fiber optics, and internet infrastructure. The speed and reliability of internet access, coupled with the country’s tax incentives, have made the UAE an attractive option for many tech companies and start-ups. Du and Etisalat are the two major players in the market. Over the past few years, the number of broadband internet subscriptions in the UAE has increased significantly. In addition to static broadband, there is also a high mobile internet penetration, with the country being among the leaders in mobile internet speed around the world. Naturally, this modern and accessible technology has facilitated the growth of other industries such as e-commerce, blockchain technologies, fintech, and other sectors.

The UAE’s Smart City initiative

The Smart City initiative introduced by the UAE government aims to significantly modernize cities by leveraging the latest technologies to improve people’s quality of life. The program emphasizes the use of technology and data to provide civil services more efficiently. A prerequisite to powering these smart cities is a robust broadband and mobile internet infrastructure that can seamlessly and reliably connect all the various interdependent systems. These upgraded urban centers will be characterized by an increase in e-mobility, IoT devices, digital governance, real-time data transfer, and other services that rely on a strong network. The Smart City initiative has taken off in all major cities in the UAE, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi being at the forefront of the transformation.