Shaimaa Hefzy

Emirates Telecommunications Group (E&P), listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, announced that Hatem Dowidar will leave his position as CEO of the group after nearly 6 years, at the end of next March, and that Masoud Mohammed Sharif will succeed him, according to a statement from the group to the stock exchange on Tuesday.

The group said in its statement that the board of directors approved the resignation of Dweidar - who had worked in the group since 2015 and was appointed chief executive since May 2020 - and the appointment of Masood Mohamed Sharif as its new chief executive, who has already held a position in the group for about five years.

The group has been operating since 1976 and has a presence in 38 countries across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Central and Eastern Europe. The Emirates Investment Authority (EIA), the sovereign wealth fund of the UAE government, owns 60% of the group, according to its official website.

Who is the new CEO?

(According to the statement and his LinkedIn account)

He is 48 years old, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Systems Engineering from Boston University in the United States of America in 2000, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration, specializing in Finance, from McGill University in Canada in 2006.

- He has held the position of CEO of Etisalat Emirates since 2021.

He served as CEO of Yahsat satellite operator from 2013 to 2021, after serving for a year as Deputy CEO. He currently serves on its board of directors.

- Prior to working at Yahsat, he worked at Mubadala Investment Company between 2011-2012, as Vice President of the Information and Communications Technology Investment Sector, and he oversaw Mubadala’s investments in the sector, which included companies: Yahsat, Du, and Injazat.

- Prior to that, since 2006, he worked at Dubai Holding Group in the field of investment within the financial services and technology sectors.

He began his career by joining the founding team of the Executive Office of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum - Crown Prince of Dubai - from 2000 to 2004.

- He previously served as a board member of Etihad Airways Group and currently serves on the board of the UAE Space Agency.

- He will begin his duties as CEO of the E& Group starting from April 1, 2026.

(Prepared by: Shaimaa Hefzy, for contact: zawya.arabic@lseg.com)

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