Etisalat, the UAE's biggest telecoms company, appointed Hatem Dowidar as its new group chief executive, the company said.
In May, Mr Dowidar was appointed as acting group chief executive after Etisalat's long serving chief executive Saleh Al Abdooli stepped down for personal reasons.
Mr Dowidar joined Etisalat in September 2015, having previously worked as Vodafone Group's chief of staff in London. He became chief executive of Etisalat's international business in March 2016.
He initially joined Vodafone Egypt in 1999 as marketing director and became its chief executive in 2009.
"Mr Dowidar has a long track record of achievements in the various leadership positions he held at Vodafone Group and its subsidiaries … he brings 30 years of experience in multinational companies … more than 24 of these within the telecommunications industry," Etisalat said in a statement on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares trade.
“He has extensive corporate governance experience from his representation as chairman and board member in several corporate boards within and outside the telecommunications industry.”
Mr Dowidar also sits on the boards of Etisalat's subsidiaries in Morocco, Egypt and Pakistan.
Etisalat, which is majority owned by the government, in October reported a 6 per cent year-on-year rise in third quarter net profit to Dh2.4 billion. Meanwhile, revenue rose marginally by 0.5 per cent to reach Dh13bn.
Its subscriber base in the UAE grew to 12.1 million during the period.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
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8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
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Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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