Ooredoo Bets Big on AI and Fintech, Invests in Africa-Middle East Connectivity
The company is accelerating its transformation into a multi-asset digital leader, expanding its reach through initiatives in AI, data centres, subsea connectivity, and fintech services across the Middle East and North Africa.
Ooredoo Group has announced sustained operational and financial growth for the first quarter of 2025, driven by strategic investments in technology and digital infrastructure. The company is accelerating its transformation into a multi-asset digital leader, expanding its reach through initiatives in AI, data centres, subsea connectivity, and fintech services across the Middle East and North Africa.
Financially, the Group recorded revenue of QAR 5.8 billion, which remained flat year-on-year but showed modest growth when adjusted for the Myanmar market exit. EBITDA stood at approximately QAR 2.5 billion, maintaining a margin of around 43 percent, while net profit increased by five percent to QAR 960 million. Capital expenditure rose by about 40 percent to QAR 538 million, underscoring the company’s focus on scaling digital infrastructure and preparing for next-generation technologies.
A major highlight of Ooredoo’s strategy is the spin-off of its data centre business into Syntys, formerly known as MENA Digital Hub. Backed by a USD 1 billion investment, Syntys is scaling toward over 120 MW of AI-ready capacity across multiple markets, including Algeria and Tunisia. The initiative is further supported by a QAR 2 billion (approximately USD 549 million) financing facility from Qatari banks. Through partnerships with global players such as NVIDIA and Iron Mountain, Ooredoo is positioning itself as a hyperscale AI and cloud services provider for the region.
Another significant milestone is the development of the “Fibre In the Gulf” (FIG) subsea cable project, which aims to connect key Gulf countries with a 720 Tbps capacity network. This infrastructure not only strengthens regional connectivity but also has the potential to extend benefits to North African markets by creating new digital corridors between Africa, Asia, and Europe. Complementing this, Ooredoo is modernizing its mobile network with 5G Standalone and 5G Advanced technologies, enabling low-latency services, network slicing, and edge computing capabilities to serve industries ranging from energy to logistics.
Ooredoo’s fintech operations are also expanding rapidly, with services already active in Qatar, Oman, and the Maldives. The platform processed significant remittance volumes in Q1 2025, generating QAR 22.1 million in revenue and serving over 326,000 active users. Plans are underway to extend fintech offerings to North African markets, enhancing digital financial inclusion in countries like Tunisia.
The company’s North African presence, particularly in Algeria and Tunisia, stands to gain significantly from these investments. AI-ready data centres and advanced network upgrades in these markets are expected to boost local enterprise innovation and create new opportunities for tech-driven economic growth. Furthermore, the subsea cable and fibre expansions could position Ooredoo as a key enabler of cross-border digital traffic between Africa and global hubs.
Looking ahead, Ooredoo’s strategic roadmap centres on three core pillars: TowerCo, Syntys, and Fintech. This portfolio approach is designed to maximize asset value, enable third-party partnerships, and strengthen the company’s role as a digital infrastructure provider. For 2025, Ooredoo projects modest revenue growth of 2–3 percent, maintains an EBITDA margin in the low 40 percent range, and plans capital expenditure of QAR 4.5–5 billion to sustain its ongoing transformation.
By combining robust financial performance with bold technological initiatives, Ooredoo is redefining its role in the telecom sector and emerging as a pivotal force in driving digital transformation across both the Middle East and Africa.
