Ooredoo Posts Strong H1 2026 Results as Digital Infrastructure Strategy Gains Momentum
A key milestone was the launch of Al Abraj, a standalone company established to independently manage Ooredoo's passive tower infrastructure in Qatar following regulatory approval.
Ooredoo Group reported solid financial and operational performance for the first half of 2026, posting revenue growth of 4.6% year-on-year to QAR 12.5 billion as demand for digital connectivity and data services remained strong across its markets. EBITDA increased by 7.4% to QAR 5.5 billion, while free cash flow rose 7.7% to QAR 3.9 billion, reflecting continued operational discipline and effective cost management. The Group’s total customer base reached 147.5 million, including Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH).
Despite the strong operating performance, net profit attributable to shareholders declined 5.1% year-on-year to QAR 1.8 billion due to a one-off legal provision in Algeria. Excluding exceptional items, however, normalized net profit increased by 3.7% to QAR 2.0 billion, underscoring the resilience of the company’s core business.
During the period, Ooredoo continued executing its RISE strategy, making progress across several strategic growth areas including telecom towers, data centres, fintech, and international connectivity. A key milestone was the launch of Al Abraj, a standalone company established to independently manage Ooredoo’s passive tower infrastructure in Qatar following regulatory approval. The initiative forms part of the Group’s broader portfolio optimization strategy aimed at improving capital efficiency while maintaining operational excellence.
The Group also expanded its digital infrastructure business through Syntys, which acquired Q Data QFZ LLC in Qatar, adding 12.5MW of hyperscale data centre capacity. Following the acquisition, Syntys increased its operational IT capacity in Qatar to 26MW and total installed capacity to 30MW, supporting its long-term goal of reaching 120MW by 2030. The platform also secured an additional 8.4MW hyperscaler contract during the second quarter, strengthening its position in enabling cloud computing and artificial intelligence deployments across the region.
Ooredoo Financial Technology International (OFTI) continued to grow its digital financial services footprint across Qatar, Oman, the Maldives and Tunisia. During the first half, the fintech business processed QAR 5.4 billion in remittances in Qatar, expanded remittance services in Oman, enabled PayPal payments through mFaisaa in the Maldives, and made its Walletii mobile wallet publicly available in Tunisia. The company also continued preparations for expansion into Iraq, Algeria and Kuwait.
The telecom operator also strengthened its international connectivity ambitions by establishing Ooredoo Fibre Networks (OFN) to oversee its subsea cable and fibre infrastructure assets. As part of its Fibre in the Gulf (FIG) project, Ooredoo advanced landing agreements, cable landing stations and infrastructure development across the Gulf region while signing a partnership with UAE operator du to further expand the subsea cable network.
Operationally, the Group recorded strong revenue growth in several markets, led by Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq and Palestine, although lower device sales in Qatar, Kuwait and Oman due to regional logistics constraints weighed on overall performance. Ooredoo maintained its full-year 2026 guidance, citing disciplined execution, ongoing efficiency initiatives and resilient demand across its diversified portfolio despite a more challenging regional environment.
