After a decade at the helm, he steps down with record revenue and a footprint in 38 markets.
Dubai: Hatem Dowidar will step down as Group Chief Executive Officer of e& at the end of March 2026, following what he described as a milestone year for the group.
The move comes after more than a decade with the company, including six years leading it as CEO.
“With 2025 marking a record year for e&, I have decided to conclude my six-year tenure as Group CEO,” Dowidar said following the official announcement. He added that he and the board had agreed he would step down at the end of March, with his final day in office set for March 31.
Milestone 2025
The announcement comes after the group’s 2025 financial results, which reported consolidated revenue of Dh72.9 billion and a net profit of Dh14.4 billion. Dowidar noted that the significance of the year went beyond earnings growth.
“Looking at our 2025 results – Dh72.9 billion in consolidated revenue and Dh14.4 billion in net profit – what matters most isn’t the record performance,” Dowidar said. “It’s that our technology empowers more than 244 million subscribers with integrated digital and financial ecosystems to help them build better futures.”
He added that the coming weeks would focus on ensuring a seamless transition. “It’s all hands on deck for the next five weeks as we ensure a smooth handover,” Dowidar said, noting that he would remain fully committed to the process until his departure.
Telco to technology
Dowidar joined e& in September 2015 as Group Chief Operating Officer and was appointed Chief Executive Officer, International, in March 2016. He became Group CEO in May 2020, a period that coincided with the company’s broader strategic repositioning.
In February 2022, the group formally rebranded as e&, reflecting its expansion beyond core telecom services into digital platforms, fintech, enterprise solutions, and emerging technologies. Today, the company operates across 38 markets, positioning itself as a global technology group rather than a traditional telecom operator.
Under Dowidar’s leadership, e& has been recognised by Brand Finance as the fastest-growing technology brand and holder of the most valuable brand portfolio in the Middle East and Africa. He was ranked number one globally among telecom leaders in the Brand Guardianship Index 2024, and the group’s UAE entity topped Brand Finance’s inaugural Employer Brand Report for telecoms.
Broader industry roles
Dowidar brings over 30 years of experience in multinational companies, including more than 25 years in the telecommunications sector. Before joining e&, he served as Group Chief of Staff at Vodafone Group in London and held senior leadership roles, including CEO of Vodafone Egypt and chairman and CEO of Vodafone Malta.
He currently sits on the boards of Vodafone Group, Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily), Maroc Telecom, and Etisalat Misr. At the global industry level, he is a member of the GSMA and the leadership panel of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum.
Dowidar will be succeeded by Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, currently CEO of e& UAE. The company said the transition has been agreed with the board and will be completed by the end of March, with Dowidar remaining in position to oversee the handover. No additional changes to the group’s leadership structure have been announced.
