Earnings Report
Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company
1. Company Overview & Earnings Context
Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du) reported its Q1 2026 results, delivering a strong and resilient performance with solid revenue growth and improved profitability, despite some weakness toward the end of the quarter.
2. Financial Performance Snapshot
Revenue: AED 4.1B (+6.9% YoY)
EBITDA (operating profit before D&A): AED 2.0B (+11.7% YoY)
Net profit: AED 0.83B (+15.5% YoY)
EBITDA margin: 49.5% (expansion YoY)
Operating profit: AED 1.48B
Operating free cash flow: AED 1.65B (+14.2% YoY)
Capital intensity: 9.4%
3. Operational Highlights & Key Metrics
Mobile subscribers: 9.7M (+6.1% YoY)
Postpaid subscribers: 2.0M (+9.6% YoY)
Prepaid subscribers: 7.7M (+5.2% YoY)
Fixed subscribers: 745K (+6.3% YoY)
Service revenue growth: +8.7% YoY
Capex: AED 386M
4. Key Performance Drivers
du’s Q1 performance was driven by strong commercial momentum and disciplined cost management, particularly in the early part of the quarter, as reflected in both the press release and financial statements (page 3).
Key drivers included:
Solid subscriber growth across mobile and fixed segments, supporting revenue expansion
Favorable mix shift toward postpaid users, improving margins and ARPU quality
Strong growth in ICT and enterprise connectivity services, aiding diversification
Cost discipline and interconnect cost optimization, supporting EBITDA margin expansion
External headwinds in March (lower tourism, roaming, and usage softness) partially impacting momentum
Overall, early-quarter strength and operational discipline offset late-quarter external pressures.
5. Outlook & Forward Guidance
du is maintaining its full-year guidance, while closely monitoring evolving market conditions.
Key forward considerations include:
Continued growth across mobile, fixed, and ICT segments
Focus on cost discipline and margin preservation
Ongoing investment in network expansion, fibre, and data centers
Agile response to macro and demand fluctuations
The company continues to benefit from a resilient business model and strong balance sheet with solid cash generation.
6. 🧾 Investor Takeaway
du delivered strong growth in revenue and profitability, supported by subscriber expansion and cost discipline, while demonstrating resilience amid short-term external pressures.