Q2 2026 Ooredoo QPSC Earnings Call

August 3, 2026

Speaker #3: Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to Ooredoo Group's financial results call for the first half of 2026. My name is Ali Serdar, Head of Group Treasury and Investor Relations.

Ali Serdar: Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to Ooredoo Group's financial results call for H1 2026. My name is Ali Serdar, Head of Group Treasury and Investor Relations. Thank you for your attendance today. I am joined by our Group CEO, Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, who will start with highlights of H1, strategic progress, and then group results. After that, our Deputy Group CFO, Fadia Abdullatif, will walk you through the performance of our operation. We will keep the presentation short so we can leave enough time for your questions. You can submit your questions at any time using the Q&A function. The presentation is available on our website and on this platform. Please note that this session is being recorded and transcribed. Finally, please refer to the disclaimer on slide two. With that, I will now hand over to Aziz.

Speaker #3: Thank you for your attendance today. I'm joined by our Group CEO, Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, who will start with highlights of the first half, strategic progress, and then group results.

Speaker #3: After that, our Deputy Group CFO, Fadi Abdel Latif, will walk you through the performance of our operations. We'll keep the presentation short so we can leave enough time for your questions.

Ali Serdar: We will keep the presentation short so we can leave enough time for your questions. You can submit your questions at any time using the Q&A function. The presentation is available on our website and on this platform. Please note that this session is being recorded and transcribed. Finally, please refer to the disclaimer on slide two. With that, I will now hand over to Aziz.

Speaker #3: You can submit your questions at any time using the Q&A function. The presentation is available on our website and on this platform. Please note that this session is being recorded and transcribed. Finally, please refer to the disclaimer on slide 2.

Speaker #3: With that, I will now hand over to Aziz.

Speaker #4: Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to our H1 2026 results call. Let me start with a brief overview of the first half before turning to our strategic process and group performance in detail.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to our H1 2026 result call. Let me start with a brief overview of H1 before turning to our strategic progress and group performance in detail. H1 2026 was another period of solid execution for Ooredoo. We delivered higher revenue, EBITDA, and normalized net profit, supported by resilient demand across our markets and disciplined execution across the group. Revenue growth was led by Algeria, Tunisia, and Iraq, while our core markets remained resilient in terms of service revenue despite a more challenging operating environment. Profitability continued to improve with EBITDA margin expanding year-on-year, reflecting operating leverage, revenue mix changes in select markets, and ongoing cost discipline. We also made tangible progress on strategic priorities, including the launch of Al Abraj, continued expansion of Syntys, and further development in our fintech platform.

Speaker #4: The first half of 2026 was another period of solid execution for Ooredoo. We delivered higher revenue, EBITDA, and normalized net profit, supported by resilient demand across our markets and disciplined execution across the group.

Speaker #4: Revenue growth was led by Algeria, Tunisia, and Iraq, while our core markets remained resilient in terms of service revenue, despite a more challenging operating environment.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Revenue growth was led by Algeria, Tunisia, and Iraq, while our core markets remained resilient in terms of service revenue despite a more challenging operating environment. Profitability continued to improve with EBITDA margin expanding year-on-year, reflecting operating leverage, revenue mix changes in select markets, and ongoing cost discipline. We also made tangible progress on strategic priorities, including the launch of Al Abraj, continued expansion of Syntys, and further development in our fintech platform.

Speaker #4: Profitability continued to improve, with EBITDA margin expanding year on year, reflecting operating leverage, revenue mix changes in select markets, and ongoing cost discipline. We also made tangible progress on strategic priorities, including the launch of AlaBrache, continued expansion of Synthes, and further development of our fintech platform.

Speaker #4: Combined with a strong balance sheet and healthy cash generation, this positioned us well for the second half of the year. Let me continue with Synthes, our dedicated data center platform.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Combined with a strong balance sheet and a healthy cash generation, this positions us well for H2. Let me continue with Syntys, our dedicated data center platform. Syntys continued to make good progress during H1, supported by the acquisition of QData in Qatar and continued demand from hyperscaler customers. The acquisition expanded our capacity footprint and strengthened the platform position in supporting cloud, AI, and digital infrastructure requirement across the region. During H1, Syntys generated QAR 112 million of revenue and QAR 46 million of EBITDA. We remain focused on scaling the platform in a disciplined manner, aligned with customer demand and long-term value creation. Turning to fintech. Our fintechs continued to scale across our footprint, supported by growing customer adoption, and increasing remittance activity. Qatar remained the largest market, while Oman continued to build momentum following its launch last year.

Speaker #4: Synthes continued to make good progress during the first half, supported by the acquisition of Qdata in Qatar and continued demand from hyperscaler customers. The acquisition expanded our capacity footprint and strengthened the platform position in supporting cloud, AI, and digital infrastructure requirements across the region.

Speaker #4: During the first half, Synthes generated $112 million of revenue and $46 million of EBITDA. We remained focused on scaling the platform in a disciplined manner, aligned with customer demand and long-term value creation.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: During H1, Syntys generated QAR 112 million of revenue and QAR 46 million of EBITDA. We remain focused on scaling the platform in a disciplined manner, aligned with customer demand and long-term value creation. Turning to fintech. Our fintechs continued to scale across our footprint, supported by growing customer adoption, and increasing remittance activity. Qatar remained the largest market, while Oman continued to build momentum following its launch last year.

Speaker #4: Turning to fintech: Our fintech business continued to scale across our footprint, supported by growing customer adoption and increasing remittance activity. Qatar remained the largest market, while Oman continued to build momentum following its launch last year.

Speaker #4: During the first half, the platform processed almost $6 billion of international remittances and served more than 500,000 users. We also continued to progress our expansion plans, with go-live in Tunisia and Iraq moving through the development phase, and licensing discussions advancing in additional markets.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: During H1, the platform processed almost QAR 6 billion of international remittances and served more than 500,000 users. We also continue to progress our expansion plans with go live in Tunisia and Iraq moving through the development phase and licensing discussion advancing in additional markets. Fintech remains an attractive long-term growth opportunity for the Group, with continued focus on disciplined execution and sustainable growth. Turning to the Group's performance, we delivered a solid H1 despite a more complex regional backdrop. Revenue increased by almost 5% to QAR 12.5 billion. EBITDA grew by 7%, with margin improving by 1.2 percentage points to 44.4%. While reported net profit was preliminarily impacted by a one-off legal provision in Algeria, normalized net profit increased by around 4%. Free cash flow also increased by almost 8%, highlighting the strengths of our operational model and capital discipline.

Speaker #4: Fintechs remain an attractive long-term growth opportunity for the group, with continued focus on disciplined execution and sustainable growth. Turning to the group's performance, we delivered a solid first half, despite a more complex regional backdrop.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Turning to the Group's performance, we delivered a solid H1 despite a more complex regional backdrop. Revenue increased by almost 5% to QAR 12.5 billion. EBITDA grew by 7%, with margin improving by 1.2 percentage points to 44.4%. While reported net profit was preliminarily impacted by a one-off legal provision in Algeria, normalized net profit increased by around 4%. Free cash flow also increased by almost 8%, highlighting the strengths of our operational model and capital discipline.

Speaker #4: Revenue increased by almost 5% to $12.5 billion. EBITDA grew by 7%, with margin improving by 1.2 percentage points to 44.4%. While reported net profit was preliminarily impacted by a one-off legal provision in Algeria, normalized net profit increased by around 4%.

Speaker #4: Free cash flow also increased by almost 8%, highlighting the strength of our operational model and capital discipline. Looking specifically at the second quarter, revenue increased by over 3%, supported by continued demand across the portfolio.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Looking specifically at Q2, revenue increased by over 3%, supported by continued demand across the portfolio. EBITDA increased by 8%, significantly ahead of revenue growth, reflecting stronger profitability and operating leverage. EBITDA margin improved by 2 percentage points to 45%. Free cash flow increased by nearly 11%, while leverage remained low at just 0.6x net debt to EBITDA. Overall, revenue growth translated into stronger profitability, improved cash generation, and continued financial flexibility. Turning to revenue for H1. Group revenue increased by nearly 5% to QAR 12.5 billion. Growth was driven by Algeria, Tunisia, and Iraq, supported by customer addition and continued demand for data services. Across our core markets, service revenue remained resilient. Device-related revenues were weaker in some markets due to regional logistics constraints impacting our equipment sales during the period. Overall, demand for connectivity service remained solid across the Group.

Speaker #4: EBITDA increased by 8%, significantly ahead of revenue growth, reflecting stronger profitability and operating leverage. EBITDA margin improved by 2 percentage points to 45%. Free cash flow increased by nearly 11%, while leverage remained low at just 0.6 times net debt to EBITDA.

Speaker #4: Overall, revenue growth translated into stronger profitability, improved cash generation, and continued financial flexibility. Turning to revenue for the first half of the year: group revenue increased by nearly 5% to $12.5 billion.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Turning to revenue for H1. Group revenue increased by nearly 5% to QAR 12.5 billion. Growth was driven by Algeria, Tunisia, and Iraq, supported by customer addition and continued demand for data services. Across our core markets, service revenue remained resilient. Device-related revenues were weaker in some markets due to regional logistics constraints impacting our equipment sales during the period. Overall, demand for connectivity service remained solid across the Group.

Speaker #4: Growth was driven by Algeria, Tunisia, and Iraq, supported by customer additions and continued demand for data services. Across our core markets, service revenue remained resilient.

Speaker #4: Device-related revenues were weaker in some markets due to regional logistic constraints, impacting our equipment sales during the period. Overall, demand for connectivity services remained solid across the group.

Speaker #4: Turning to EBITDA for the first half: EBITDA increased by over 7% to $5.5 billion. EBITDA margin improved to 44.4%, continuing the positive trend seen in recent quarters.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Turning to EBITDA for H1. EBITDA increased by over 7% to QAR 5.5 billion. EBITDA margin improved to 44.4%, continuing this positive trend seen in recent quarters. Margin expansion was supported by operating leverage, disciplined cost management, and changes in revenue mix across select markets. For H1, reported net profit declined by nearly 5%, mainly reflecting a one-off legal provision recorded in Algeria. On a normalized basis, net profit increased by around 4% to almost QAR 2 billion. This demonstrates the resilience of the business and continued improvement in operational performance across the portfolio. Q2 net profit also decreased due to the one-off legal provision in Algeria. Excluding this and other one-off items, normalized net profit increased by around 2% year-on-year. This reflects the strength of the underlying operating performance across the Group. We invested QAR 1.6 billion during H1.

Speaker #4: Margin expansion was supported by operating leverage, disciplined cost management, and changes in revenue mix across select markets. For the first half, reported net profit declined by nearly 5%, mainly reflecting a one-off legal provision recorded in Algeria.

Speaker #4: On a normalized basis, net profit increased by around 4% to almost $2 billion. This demonstrates the resilience of the business and continued improvement in operational performance across the portfolio.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: This demonstrates the resilience of the business and continued improvement in operational performance across the portfolio. Q2 net profit also decreased due to the one-off legal provision in Algeria. Excluding this and other one-off items, normalized net profit increased by around 2% year-on-year. This reflects the strength of the underlying operating performance across the Group. We invested QAR 1.6 billion during H1.

Speaker #4: Second quarter net profit also decreased due to the one-off legal provision in Algeria. Excluding this and another one-off item, normalized net profit increased by around 2% year-on-year.

Speaker #4: This reflects the strength of the underlying operating performance across the group. We invested $1.6 billion during the first half. Capital expenditures remained focused on network expansion, capacity enhancement, and supporting future growth initiatives.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Capital expenditures remain focused on network expansion, capacity enhancement, and supporting future growth initiatives. Investments were concentrated in markets such as Algeria, Qatar, and Tunisia. We also maintain flexibility in timing discretionary investment where appropriate. Free cash flow increased by around 8% in H1 to QAR 3.9 billion. The improvement was preliminarily driven by stronger EBITDA and disciplined capital allocation. This continues to reinforce the financial strength of the Group and provides flexibility to support future growth opportunities. Our customer base increased by over 4% year-on-year to 54 million. Growth was driven primarily by Algeria, Iraq, and Tunisia. Including IOH, our total customer base reached 147.5 million. These results demonstrate continued demand for our services and the strength of our proposition across markets. Finally, a quick look at the balance sheet.

Speaker #4: Investments were concentrated in markets such as Algeria, Qatar, and Tunisia. We also maintained flexibility in timing, with discretionary investments where appropriate. Free cash flow increased by around 8% in the first half to $3.9 billion.

Speaker #4: The improvement was primarily driven by stronger EBITDA and disciplined capital allocation. This continues to reinforce the financial strength of the group and provides flexibility to support future growth opportunities.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: This continues to reinforce the financial strength of the Group and provides flexibility to support future growth opportunities. Our customer base increased by over 4% year-on-year to 54 million. Growth was driven primarily by Algeria, Iraq, and Tunisia. Including IOH, our total customer base reached 147.5 million. These results demonstrate continued demand for our services and the strength of our proposition across markets. Finally, a quick look at the balance sheet.

Speaker #4: Our customer base increased by over 4% year-on-year to $54 million. Growth was driven primarily by Algeria, Iraq, and Tunisia. Including IOH, our total customer base reached 147.5 million.

Speaker #4: These results demonstrate continued demand for our services and the strength of our proposition across markets. Finally, a quick look at the balance sheet: our financial position remains very strong, with net debt to EBITDA at 0.6 times, well below board guidance.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Our financial position remains very strong with net debt to EBITDA at 0.6 times, well below board guidance. Liquidity remains healthy, supported by almost QAR 11 billion of cash and a further QAR 6.4 billion of undrawn committed facilities. Our debt profile remains conservative with long maturities and limited interest rate risk. We also continue to maintain investment-grade rating from both Moody's and S&P. Based on the performance delivered during H1, we are maintaining our full-year guidance. While the regional backdrop remains dynamic, demand for connectivity service remains resilient, and we continue to see good momentum across the business. We remain focused on disciplined execution, operational efficiency, and advancing our strategic priorities. With that, I will hand over to Fadia to take you through our operational review. Thank you.

Speaker #4: Liquidity remains healthy, supported by almost $11 billion of cash and a further $6.4 billion of on-ground committed facilities. Our debt profile remains conservative, with long maturities and limited interest rate risk.

Speaker #4: We also continue to maintain an investment-grade rating from both Moody's and S&P. Based on the performance delivered during the first half, we are maintaining our full-year guidance.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Based on the performance delivered during H1, we are maintaining our full-year guidance. While the regional backdrop remains dynamic, demand for connectivity service remains resilient, and we continue to see good momentum across the business. We remain focused on disciplined execution, operational efficiency, and advancing our strategic priorities. With that, I will hand over to Fadi to take you through our operational review. Thank you.

Speaker #4: While the regional backdrop remains dynamic, demand for connectivity services remains resilient, and we continue to see good momentum across the business. We remain focused on disciplined execution, operational efficiency, and advancing our strategic priorities.

Speaker #4: With that, I'll hand over to Fadi to take you through the operational review. Thank you.

Speaker #1: Thank you, Aziz. Good afternoon, everyone. I will take you through the group's year-on-year operational performance for the first half, starting with our home market, Qatar.

Fadia Abdullatif: Thank you, Aziz. Good afternoon, everyone. I will take you through the group's year-on-year operational performance for H1. Starting with our home market, Qatar. Qatar delivered resilient profitability despite device-related revenue pressure. Revenue was broadly stable as healthy service revenue trends were offset by lower device sales. EBITDA increased by well over 1%, and EBITDA margin expanded by 1 percentage point to around 53%, supported by change in revenue mix and cost discipline. Customer base expanded by over 1%, nearly 3 million customers, supported by continued postpaid growth and effective customer value management. Moving to Kuwait, service revenue remained resilient while device supply was impacted by logistics. Revenue declined by around 2%, mainly due to lower device sales, partly offset by steady growth in service revenues.

Fadi Abdellatif: Thank you, Aziz. Good afternoon, everyone. I will take you through the group's year-on-year operational performance for H1. Starting with our home market, Qatar. Qatar delivered resilient profitability despite device-related revenue pressure. Revenue was broadly stable as healthy service revenue trends were offset by lower device sales. EBITDA increased by well over 1%, and EBITDA margin expanded by 1 percentage point to around 53%, supported by change in revenue mix and cost discipline.

Speaker #1: Qatar delivered resilient profitability despite device-related revenue pressure. Revenue was broadly stable, as healthy service revenue trends were offset by lower device sales. EBITDA increased by well over 1%, and EBITDA margin expanded by 1 percentage point to around 53%, supported by a change in revenue mix and cost discipline.

Speaker #1: Customer base expanded by over 1%, to nearly 3 million customers, supported by continued postpaid growth and effective customer value management. Moving to Kuwait, service revenue remained resilient, while device supply was impacted by logistics.

Fadi Abdellatif: Customer base expanded by over 1%, nearly 3 million customers, supported by continued postpaid growth and effective customer value management. Moving to Kuwait, service revenue remained resilient while device supply was impacted by logistics. Revenue declined by around 2%, mainly due to lower device sales, partly offset by steady growth in service revenues.

Speaker #1: Revenue declined by around 2%, mainly due to lower device sales, partly offset by steady growth in service revenues. EBITDA increased by over 5%, while EBITDA margin improved by more than 2 percentage points to just above 36%, mainly driven by a change in revenue mix.

Fadia Abdullatif: EBITDA increased by over 5%, while EBITDA margin improved by over 2 percentage points to just above 36%, mainly driven by change in revenue mix. Customer base stood at 2.8 million, down over 3% as limited device availability amid the regional conflict weighed on growth additions. Oman profitability improved despite continued competitive pressure. Revenue margin declined around 1%, with broadly stable mobile revenues and continued fixed cost offsetting pressure in wholesale and equipment. EBITDA increased by around 5%, while EBITDA margin improved by almost 3 percentage points to above 47%. This reflected disciplined cost management and the benefit of the restructuring program that was implemented late in 2025. Customer base stood at 2.9 million and down around 6% amid competition in mobile, while the fixed customer base continued to grow. Turning to Iraq, where we see another solid performance.

Fadi Abdellatif: EBITDA increased by over 5%, while EBITDA margin improved by over 2 percentage points to just above 36%, mainly driven by change in revenue mix. Customer base stood at 2.8 million, down over 3% as limited device availability amid the regional conflict weighed on growth additions. Oman profitability improved despite continued competitive pressure. Revenue margin declined around 1%, with broadly stable mobile revenues and continued fixed cost offsetting pressure in wholesale and equipment.

Speaker #1: Customer base stood at 2.8 million, down over 3%, as limited device availability amid the regional conflict weighed heavily on gross additions. In Oman, profitability improved despite continued competitive pressure.

Speaker #1: Revenue marginally declined, around 1%, with broadly stable mobile revenues and continued fixed growth offsetting pressure in wholesale and equipment. EBITDA increased by around 5%, while EBITDA margin improved by almost 3 percentage points to above 47%.

Fadi Abdellatif: EBITDA increased by around 5%, while EBITDA margin improved by almost 3 percentage points to above 47%. This reflected disciplined cost management and the benefit of the restructuring program that was implemented late in 2025. Customer base stood at 2.9 million and down around 6% amid competition in mobile, while the fixed customer base continued to grow. Turning to Iraq, where we see another solid performance.

Speaker #1: This reflected disciplined cost management and the benefit of the restructuring program that was implemented late in 2025. The customer base stood at 2.9 million, down around 6%, amid competition in mobile, while the fixed customer base continued to grow.

Speaker #1: Turning to Iraq, where we see another solid performance. AJCEL sustained growth momentum, supported by growth in customers and rising data usage. Revenue increased by over 3%, driven by customer expansion, higher data usage, and the introduction of handsets as a new revenue stream.

Fadia Abdullatif: Asiacell sustained growth momentum supported by growth in customers and rising data usage. Revenue increased by over 3%, driven by customer expansion, higher data usage, and the introduction of handsets as a new revenue stream. EBITDA increased by over 3%, with EBITDA margin stable at or above 45%. Customer base grew by 4% to just over 20 million, supported by solid prepaid net additions. Moving to Algeria, one of the group's strongest growth markets. Algeria sustained robust double-digit growth supported by data demand, voice revenues, digital services, and strong customer acquisition. Revenue increased by 16%. EBITDA increased by over 15%, while EBITDA margin was rated to around 44% due to incremental costs related to 5G frequency fees. Customer base expanded by 10% to nearly 16 million, led by sustained growth in the prepaid segment. Next to Tunisia, another growth market.

Fadi Abdellatif: Asiacell sustained growth momentum supported by growth in customers and rising data usage. Revenue increased by over 3%, driven by customer expansion, higher data usage, and the introduction of handsets as a new revenue stream. EBITDA increased by over 3%, with EBITDA margin stable at or above 45%. Customer base grew by 4% to just over 20 million, supported by solid prepaid net additions.

Speaker #1: EBITDA increased by over 3%, with the EBITDA margin stable at or above 45%. The customer base grew by 4% to just over 20 million, supported by solid prepaid net additions.

Speaker #1: Moving to Algeria, one of the group's strongest gross markets, Algeria sustained robust double-digit growth, supported by data demand, voice revenues, digital services, and strong customer acquisition.

Fadi Abdellatif: Moving to Algeria, one of the group's strongest growth markets. Algeria sustained robust double-digit growth supported by data demand, voice revenues, digital services, and strong customer acquisition. Revenue increased by 16%. EBITDA increased by over 15%, while EBITDA margin was rated to around 44% due to incremental costs related to 5G frequency fees. Customer base expanded by 10% to nearly 16 million, led by sustained growth in the prepaid segment. Next to Tunisia, another growth market.

Speaker #1: Revenue increased by 16%, EBITDA increased by over 15%, while EBITDA margin was reduced to around 44% due to incremental costs related to 5G frequency fees.

Speaker #1: Customer base expanded by 10% to nearly 16 million, led by sustained growth in the prepaid segment. Next, to Tunisia—another gross market.

Speaker #1: Tunisia delivered broad-based growth across fixed and mobile services, supported by continued fiber and 5G fixed wireless access momentum. Revenue increased by 14%, driven by strong fixed growth and positive contribution from mobile services.

Fadia Abdullatif: Tunisia delivered broad-based growth across fixed and mobile services, supported by continued fiber and 5G fixed wireless access momentum. Revenue increased by 14%, driven by strong fixed growth and positive contribution from mobile services. EBITDA increased by over 15%, while EBITDA margin improved by 0.3 percentage points to 42%, supported by operating leverage. Customer base expanded by around 4% to above 7 million, reflected continued demand for fixed services and 5G FWA offerings. Turning to Maldives, the business maintained resilient profitability despite softer tourism-related activity. Revenue was broadly stable, with the fixed and mobile growth largely offsetting lower wholesale revenues. EBITDA increased by over 1%, and EBITDA margin improved by 0.8 percentage points to above 56%, supported by cost optimization initiatives. Customer base grew by 3%, while growth across mobile segments and continued expansion in fixed broadband. Moving to Ooredoo Palestine. Ooredoo Palestine delivered strong growth despite market headwinds.

Fadi Abdellatif: Tunisia delivered broad-based growth across fixed and mobile services, supported by continued fiber and 5G fixed wireless access momentum. Revenue increased by 14%, driven by strong fixed growth and positive contribution from mobile services. EBITDA increased by over 15%, while EBITDA margin improved by 0.3 percentage points to 42%, supported by operating leverage. Customer base expanded by around 4% to above 7 million, reflected continued demand for fixed services and 5G FWA offerings.

Speaker #1: EBITDA increased by over 15%, while the EBITDA margin improved by 0.3 percentage points to 42%, supported by operating leverage. The customer base expanded by around 4% to above 7 million, reflecting continued demand for fixed services and 5G FWA offerings.

Speaker #1: Turning to Maldives, the business maintained resilient profitability despite softer tourism-related activity. Revenue was broadly stable, with the fixed and mobile growth largely offsetting lower wholesale revenues.

Fadi Abdellatif: Turning to Maldives, the business maintained resilient profitability despite softer tourism-related activity. Revenue was broadly stable, with the fixed and mobile growth largely offsetting lower wholesale revenues. EBITDA increased by over 1%, and EBITDA margin improved by 0.8 percentage points to above 56%, supported by cost optimization initiatives. Customer base grew by 3%, while growth across mobile segments and continued expansion in fixed broadband. Moving to Ooredoo Palestine. Ooredoo Palestine delivered strong growth despite market headwinds.

Speaker #1: EBITDA increased by over 1%, and EBITDA margin improved by 0.8 percentage points to above 56%, supported by cost optimization initiatives. The customer base grew by 3%, with growth across mobile segments and continued expansion in fixed broadband.

Speaker #1: Moving to Palestine. Ooredoo Palestine delivered strong gross despite market headwinds. Revenue increased by around 18%, driven by a stabilizing market environment, improved underlying performance, and a positive currency impact.

Fadia Abdullatif: Revenue increased by around 18%, driven by a stabilizing market environment, improved underlying performance, and positive currency impact. EBITDA increased by 25%, and EBITDA margin improved by over 2 percentage points to 42%. This reflects healthy operating leverage and efficiency in cost management. Customer base saw a modest decline remaining above 1.5 million. Finally, we move to IOH, our equity accounted joint venture. IOH continued to deliver strong growth and improve profitability supported by consistent execution. In local currency terms, revenue increased by 13% and EBITDA grew by 14%, while EBITDA margin improved by 0.4 percentage points to around 48%. Net profit increased by 76%, reflecting strong operational performance. Customer base declined 2% to just over 93 million, reflecting ongoing market SIM consolidation, while underlying customer demand remains resilient. This concludes our operational performance review for today. Now back to you, Ali. Thank you very much.

Fadi Abdellatif: Revenue increased by around 18%, driven by a stabilizing market environment, improved underlying performance, and positive currency impact. EBITDA increased by 25%, and EBITDA margin improved by over 2 percentage points to 42%. This reflects healthy operating leverage and efficiency in cost management. Customer base saw a modest decline remaining above 1.5 million. Finally, we move to IOH, our equity accounted joint venture.

Speaker #1: EBITDA increased by 25%, and EBITDA margin improved by over 2 percentage points to 42%. This reflects healthy operating leverage and efficiency in cost management.

Speaker #1: The customer base saw a modest decline, remaining above 1.5 million. And finally, we move to IOH, our equity-accounted joint venture. IOH continued to deliver strong growth and improved profitability, supported by consistent execution.

Fadi Abdellatif: IOH continued to deliver strong growth and improve profitability supported by consistent execution. In local currency terms, revenue increased by 13% and EBITDA grew by 14%, while EBITDA margin improved by 0.4 percentage points to around 48%. Net profit increased by 76%, reflecting strong operational performance. Customer base declined 2% to just over 93 million, reflecting ongoing market SIM consolidation, while underlying customer demand remains resilient. This concludes our operational performance review for today. Now back to you, Ali. Thank you very much.

Speaker #1: In local currency terms, revenue increased by 13%, and EBITDA grew by 14%, while EBITDA margin improved by 0.4 percentage points to around 48%. Net profit increased by 76%, reflecting strong operational performance.

Speaker #1: Customer base declined 2% to just over 93 million, reflecting ongoing market SIM consolidation, while underlying customer demand remained resilient. This concludes our operational performance review for today, and now back to Ali.

Speaker #1: Thank you very much.

Speaker #2: Thank you very much, Aziz and Fahdi. We will now move to the Q&A session. If you would like to participate, please raise your virtual hand, and I will unmute your line when it's your turn.

Ali Serdar: Thank you very much, Aziz and Fadi. We will now move to the Q&A session. If you would like to participate, please raise your virtual hand and I will unmute your line when it's your turn. You can also type your question in the Q&A box. If you have joined by phone, just press star and nine. Let me open the floor now. Our first question comes from Thando from UBS. Thando, please.

Speaker #2: You can also type your question in the Q&A box. And if you have joined by phone, just press star and 9. Let me open the floor now, and our first question comes from Tando from UBS.

Speaker #2: Tando, please.

Speaker #1: Great, thank you so much, and I guess I could say congratulations for the results. Given this situation, I'll start off with three questions, please.

[Analyst] (UBS): Great. Thank you so much. I guess I could say congratulations for the results given this situation. I'll start off with three questions, please. Just the first one, I wanted to just get a sense of how the recovery in Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, has been on a month-to-month basis. If you were to compare July versus April, May, and June, just in terms of the equipment sales. I wonder if you could just quantify what the impact was from the ongoing conflict, please. My second question is just, I wonder if you could give some sort of outlook in Iraq, please, just for the remainder of this year, and what management is expecting in terms of growth for the H2 of the year, and how things are looking right now. Yeah, let me just ask those two. I'll come back in line again if there's space.

Thando Skosana: Great. Thank you so much. I guess I could say congratulations for the results given this situation. I'll start off with three questions, please. Just the first one, I wanted to just get a sense of how the recovery in Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, has been on a month-to-month basis. If you were to compare July versus April, May, and June, just in terms of the equipment sales. I wonder if you could just quantify what the impact was from the ongoing conflict, please.

Speaker #1: Just the first one. I wanted to get a sense of how the recovery in Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait has been on a month-to-month basis.

Speaker #1: So if you were to compare July versus April, May, and June, just in terms of the equipment sales, I wonder if you could just quantify what the impact was from the ongoing conflict, please.

Thando Skosana: My second question is just, I wonder if you could give some sort of outlook in Iraq, please, just for the remainder of this year, and what management is expecting in terms of growth for the H2 of the year, and how things are looking right now. Yeah, let me just ask those two. I'll come back in line again if there's space.

Speaker #1: My second question is, I just wonder if you could give some sort of outlook in Iraq, please, just for the remainder of this year.

Speaker #1: And what management is expecting in terms of growth for the second half of the year, and how things are looking right now. Yeah, let me just ask those two; I'll come back in line again if there's space.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Thando, thanks. As usual, you're the first. You had two questions. One was on Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar. Look, as of today, we still have some impact from device sale. We have created alternate routes for the device sales, which mainly feed our top line. As you know, that's an extremely low margin business. It's a business we do more as an enabler. The revenue line we actually like. Device sales profit margin usually range, depending on the models, from 2% to 15% in a best case. As long as that impact affects systematically all players in the market, which is the case, we're not that concerned with it. If we were the only ones which weren't able to enter device, then it would be quite problematic. We have set up alternative routes.

Speaker #2: Tando, thanks. As usual, you're the first. So you had two questions. One was on Iraq, Qatar—no, Kuwait and Qatar. Look, as of today, we still have some impact from device sale.

Speaker #2: We've created alternate routes for device sales, which mainly feed our top line. But as you know, that's an extremely low-margin business.

Speaker #2: It's a business we do more as an enabler. As a revenue line, we actually like it. Device sales profit margin usually ranges, depending on the models, from 2% to 15% in a best case.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: The revenue line we actually like. Device sales profit margin usually range, depending on the models, from 2% to 15% in a best case. As long as that impact affects systematically all players in the market, which is the case, we're not that concerned with it. If we were the only ones which weren't able to enter device, then it would be quite problematic. We have set up alternative routes.

Speaker #2: As long as that impact affects systematically all players in the market, which is the case, we're not that concerned with it. If we were the only ones who were not able to enter the device, then it would be quite problematic.

Speaker #2: We have set up alternative routes. We have devices coming in—not at the same pace as usual, but much better than at the beginning of the conflict.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: We have devices coming in, not at the same pace as usual, but much better than at the beginning of the conflict. We're hoping for the general situation to normalize so that we can go back to business as usual. In Iraq, we're confident and as a general, our guidance for all of our markets on the group remains the same. It is hard to forecast in the region given the events. Iraq has been, in ways, impacted by the conflict. As you know, there's been some disruptions in government salary payments, which has impacted slightly the market. It's a bit of an on and off, overall, and this is valid for all the markets which were directly impacted, including Maldives, because Maldives is impacted by the conflict.

Speaker #2: And we're hoping for the general situation to normalize so that we can go back to business as usual. In Iraq, we're confident—and in general, our guidance for the whole of our markets and the group remains the same.

Speaker #2: It is hard to forecast in the region, given the events. Iraq has, in some ways, been impacted by the conflict. As you know, there's been some disruptions in government salary payments, which has slightly impacted the market.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: It is hard to forecast in the region given the events. Iraq has been, in ways, impacted by the conflict. As you know, there's been some disruptions in government salary payments, which has impacted slightly the market. It's a bit of an on and off, overall, and this is valid for all the markets which were directly impacted, including Maldives, because Maldives is impacted by the conflict.

Speaker #2: It's a bit of an on-and-off, but overall—and this is valid for all the markets which were directly impacted, including Maldives, because Maldives is impacted by the conflict—what you have seen in our results is, despite all of this, we've been able to increase our EBITDA margin and grow our EBITDA because we have built in this reflex within Ooredoo of immediate discipline and trying to substitute when we see weakness with alternative programs, whether on the revenue side or on the cost saving side.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: What you have seen in our result is despite all of this, we've been able to increase our EBITDA margin and grow our EBITDA because we built in this reflex within Ooredoo of immediate discipline and trying to substitute when we see weakness with alternative program, whether on the revenue side or on the cost-saving side. That is methodically applied by all the management team across the whole footprint. I think that's a testament to the discipline of the group.

Speaker #2: And that is methodically applied by all the management team across the whole footprint. So I think that's a testament to the discipline of the group.

Speaker #1: All right. Thank you, Tando. The second question comes from Maddy Sting from HSBC. Maddy, please.

Ali Serdar: All right. Thank you, Thando. The second question comes from Mehdi Singh from HSBC. Mehdi, please.

Speaker #3: Yes, hi. Thanks a lot for taking my question, and congrats as well on performing well during these turbulent times. My question is—the first question is actually on Iraq.

Mehdi Singh: Yes. Hi. Thanks a lot for taking my question and congrats as well on performing well during these turbulent times. The first question is actually on Iraq. I see the revenue growth is about 3%. Do you think that is the satisfactory run rate for you in Iraq? This is despite probably not having a proper third operator functioning there to the full capacity. Any views on Iraq growth trends? The second question is on your tower. We know that you created the OpCo now. How long do you think before we see the impact on the numbers in terms of booking those tower sales? Is there any change in your view on the potential payment you expect from Zain, or is it still around $500 million, the equalization payment, if that were to be the case?

Maddy Singh: Yes. Hi. Thanks a lot for taking my question and congrats as well on performing well during these turbulent times. The first question is actually on Iraq. I see the revenue growth is about 3%. Do you think that is the satisfactory run rate for you in Iraq? This is despite probably not having a proper third operator functioning there to the full capacity. Any views on Iraq growth trends?

Speaker #3: I see the revenue growth is about 3%. Do you think that is a satisfactory run rate for you in Iraq? This is despite probably not having a proper third operator functioning there to full capacity.

Speaker #3: So, any views on Iraq growth trends? And then the second question is on your towers. We know that you created the OpCo now.

Maddy Singh: The second question is on your tower. We know that you created the OpCo now. How long do you think before we see the impact on the numbers in terms of booking those tower sales? Is there any change in your view on the potential payment you expect from Zain, or is it still around $500 million, the equalization payment, if that were to be the case?

Speaker #3: So, how long do you think before we see the impact on the numbers in terms of booking those tower sales? And is there any change in your view on the potential payment you expect from Zain, or is it still around $500 million?

Speaker #3: The equalization payment, if that were to be the case. And then, I understand that the final question— I understand that the revenue growth trend in Kuwait and Qatar is due to device sales.

Mehdi Singh: The final question, I understand that revenue growth trend in Kuwait and Qatar are due to device sales. If you could talk about the service revenue growth trends in these markets, and are you happy with those trends? Thank you.

Maddy Singh: The final question, I understand that revenue growth trend in Kuwait and Qatar are due to device sales. If you could talk about the service revenue growth trends in these markets, and are you happy with those trends? Thank you.

Speaker #3: So if you could talk about the service revenue growth trends in these markets, and are you happy with those trends? Thank you.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: To answer your last question before going to the two first, with an overall arching statement, despite the whole situation across a number of our countries, I think the performance we have delivered shows a certain level of resilience on how solid is our market footprint. The strategy in a number of markets of being the premium provider, you tend to have much less elasticity on the market share when disruptions arise. In terms of Iraq, going to the third operator, which I guess you're referring to Korek. This has been a situation which has been ongoing for close to 24 months. Most of the gains that were achievable have already been achieved. The remainder of the gains, apart from a full stop of activity of Korek in their stronghold, I don't think you'll see marginal incremental gains.

Speaker #2: I'll answer your last question before going to the first two. And with an overarching statement: despite the whole situation across a number of our countries, I think the performance we have delivered shows a certain level of resilience and how solid our market footprint is.

Speaker #2: And the strategy, in a number of markets, being the premium provider, you tend to have much less elasticity on the market share when disruptions arise.

Speaker #2: In terms of Iraq, going to the third operator, which I guess you're referring to Korek, this has been a situation which has been ongoing for close to 24 months.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: In terms of Iraq, going to the third operator, which I guess you're referring to Korek. This has been a situation which has been ongoing for close to 24 months. Most of the gains that were achievable have already been achieved. The remainder of the gains, apart from a full stop of activity of Korek in their stronghold, I don't think you'll see marginal incremental gains.

Speaker #2: So most of the gains that were achievable have already been achieved. The remainder of the gains—apart from a full stop of activity of Corec in their stronghold—I don't think you'll see marginal incremental gains.

Speaker #2: Are we satisfied with the 3% revenue growth in Iraq when we were used to more double-digit growth, and we were targeting very high single-digit growth for this year?

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Are we satisfied with the 3% revenue growth in Iraq when we were used to more double-digit growth, we were targeting very high single-digit growth for this year? Obviously not. I don't think that's a reflection on our operation especially. It's just a reflection of the context. As mentioned, Iraq has been hit militarily, but also revenue-wise, as a general country, quite hard. Iraq is not as lucky as a number of the other countries such as Qatar, Oman, or Kuwait, which has significant revenue reserve at the state level. There have been some disruptions in terms of salary payments for government employees, which of course, given the size of the government employment within the country, has some impact in terms of growth. Despite all of that, we're still able to grow 3%, which in any normal telecom market is already an achievement.

Speaker #2: Obviously not. But I don't think that's a reflection on our operation especially; it's just a reflection of the context. And as mentioned, Iraq has been hit militarily, but also revenue-wise as a general country, quite hard.

Speaker #2: Iraq is not as lucky as a number of the other countries, such as Qatar, Oman, or Kuwait, which has significant revenue reserves at the state level.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Iraq is not as lucky as a number of the other countries such as Qatar, Oman, or Kuwait, which has significant revenue reserve at the state level. There have been some disruptions in terms of salary payments for government employees, which of course, given the size of the government employment within the country, has some impact in terms of growth.

Speaker #2: So, there have been some disruptions in terms of salary payments for government employees, which, of course, given the size of government employment within the country, has some impact in terms of growth.

Speaker #2: But despite all of that, we're still able to grow 3%, which in any normal telecom market is already an achievement. So are we happy with it?

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Despite all of that, we're still able to grow 3%, which in any normal telecom market is already an achievement. Are we happy with it? No. Are we proud of our achievement? Definitely, yes. We're hoping for the situation to resolve ASAP so we can go back to a more stabilized run rate of business. What was the third question?

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Are we happy with it? No. Are we proud of our achievement? Definitely, yes. We're hoping for the situation to resolve ASAP so we can go back to a more stabilized run rate of business. What was the third question?

Speaker #2: No. Are we proud of our achievement? Definitely, yes. And we're hoping for the situation to resolve ASAP so we can go back to a more stabilized run rate of business.

Speaker #1: What was the third question?

Ali Serdar: Tawaka.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Tawaka. Look, Tawaka, as you know, we've established our branch. We're finalizing final paperwork. It's the first time you'll probably hear me say this. I will say with a high degree of confidence that by next investor call, we should have done the first close of the transaction.

Speaker #2: Tareko. Look, Tareko, as you know, we've established our branch. We're finalizing the final paperwork. This is probably the first time you're hearing me say this. I will say with a high degree of confidence that by the next investor call, we should have done the first close of the transaction.

Speaker #3: Any update on the payment amount? Sorry, the equalization payment from Zayn—is that still $500?

Mehdi Singh: Any update on the payment amount? Sorry. The equalization payment from Zain, is that still QAR 500?

Maddy Singh: Any update on the payment amount? Sorry. The equalization payment from Zain, is that still QAR 500?

Speaker #2: The equalization payment formula has still not changed. Quantums remain similar, just the equalization payment happened market after market. So, I think at the first close we'll disclose what is the revised timeline in terms of closing, because we've shifted the order of certain markets.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: The equalization payment formula has still not changed. Quantum remain similar, just equalization payments happen market after market. I think at the first close, we'll disclose what is the revised timeline in terms of closing because we've shifted the orders of certain markets.

Speaker #3: Okay. Thank you.

Mehdi Singh: Okay. Thank you.

Maddy Singh: Okay. Thank you.

Speaker #1: Thank you, Maddy. Next in line is Taha Al-Nabati. Please, the floor is yours.

Ali Serdar: Thank you, Mehdi. Next in line is Taha Al-Nabati. The floor is yours.

Taha Al-Nabati: Hello. As-salaam-alaikum. First of all, I just want to thank the management for the presentation. I just have one question concerning Ooredoo Oman. There's been buzz in the last, I want to say six to eight months, about a potential tower sale done by Brookfield in Ooredoo Oman. I think the news, or not the news, official news, but the buzz was mostly about the transaction being done in Q2, but again, for many other reasons other than the geopolitical situation, might have been pushed. I just wanted to clear up the air and maybe get some insight on whether the transaction is still going through or if you want to share anything else. Thank you.

[Analyst]: Hello. As-salaam-alaikum. First of all, I just want to thank the management for the presentation. I just have one question concerning Ooredoo Oman. There's been buzz in the last, I want to say six to eight months, about a potential tower sale done by Brookfield in Ooredoo Oman. I think the news, or not the news, official news, but the buzz was mostly about the transaction being done in Q2, but again, for many other reasons other than the geopolitical situation, might have been pushed. I just wanted to clear up the air and maybe get some insight on whether the transaction is still going through or if you want to share anything else. Thank you.

Speaker #4: Hello. Assalamualaikum. First of all, I just want to thank the management for the presentation. I just have one question. It's concerning the Ooredoo Aziz.

Speaker #4: There's been buzz in the last, I want to say, six to eight months about a potential tower sale done by Brookfield in Oman from Ooredoo.

Speaker #4: I think the new—or, not the news, official news, but the buzz—was mostly about the transaction being done in Q2. But again, for many other reasons, other than the geopolitical situation, it might have been pushed.

Speaker #4: I just wanted to clear the air and maybe get some insight into whether the transaction is still going through, or if you want to share anything else.

Speaker #4: Thank you.

Speaker #2: Usually, I would say I wouldn't comment on rumor, but talking about the transaction going through, when you actually referred to it as a buzz, and we haven't done any material disclosure on it, I think answers your question.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Usually I would say I wouldn't comment on rumor, but talking about the transaction going through when you actually refer to as it as a buzz, and we haven't done any material disclosing of it, I think answers your question. There is no transaction right now on the table in Oman on towers.

Speaker #2: There is no transaction right now on the table in Oman on towers.

Speaker #4: Okay. Thank you.

Taha Al-Nabati: Okay. Thank you.

[Analyst]: Okay. Thank you.

Speaker #1: Thank you, Taha, for your question. Next in line is Aloe Alimira, 84 years.

Ali Serdar: Thank you, Taha, for your question. Next in line is Alowi Alimirah. Please, the floor is yours.

Alowi Alimirah: Hi. Thank you for the call and for the presentation. I had two questions. First, can you provide an update in terms of what are you seeing in terms of data center demand in your key markets? That's one. Then, also in Oman, in terms of specifically infrastructure, digital infrastructure, et cetera, what type of discussions are you currently having?

Speaker #4: Hi, thank you for the call and for the presentation. I had two questions. First, can you provide an update on what you are seeing in terms of data center demand in your key markets?

Speaker #4: That's one. And then also in Oman, in terms of specifically infrastructure, digital infrastructure, etc., what type of discussions are you currently having?

Speaker #2: So, in terms of data centers—look, the first slide of our investor presentation is on Cintus, which, as you see, is we already have 7.5 megawatts under construction.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: In terms of data centers, look, the first slide of our investor presentation is on centers. What you see is we have already 7.5 megawatts under construction. We have an additional 10.4 megawatts of fully contracted new data center builds. We have quite a sizable pipeline. We don't disclose the pipeline till contracts are permitted. If you take what is under construction, 7.5 plus 10.4, this is close to 60% of our installed capacity, which is in construction or in pipeline. I think we're seeing this. This is despite the 10.4 megawatts contracts were signed in the last few months. This is despite the current situation. We're seeing still extremely healthy growth in terms of data center, and we are still ahead of our plan of reaching 120 megawatts of installed capacity by 2030.

Speaker #2: We have an additional 10.4 megawatts of fully contracted new data center builds, and we have quite a sizable pipeline. We don't disclose the pipeline until contracts are committed.

Speaker #2: But if you take if you take the what is under construction, 7.5 plus 10.4, this is close to 60% of our installed capacity, which is in construction or in pipeline.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: If you take what is under construction, 7.5 plus 10.4, this is close to 60% of our installed capacity, which is in construction or in pipeline. I think we're seeing this. This is despite the 10.4 megawatts contracts were signed in the last few months. This is despite the current situation. We're seeing still extremely healthy growth in terms of data center, and we are still ahead of our plan of reaching 120 megawatts of installed capacity by 2030.

Speaker #2: So I think we're seeing this, and this is despite the 10.4 megawatt contracts that were signed in the last few months. So this is despite the current situation.

Speaker #2: So we're still seeing extremely healthy growth in terms of data centers, and we are still ahead of our plan of reaching 120 megawatts of installed capacity by 2030.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: I think we'll probably get there two years ahead of plan, given the pipeline and the strength of the demand we're seeing. Again, we don't build data centers on an opportunistic basis, meaning we're not, "Let's build a data center and then see to who we can lease it." We only build to suit. All the new builds are fully committed, contracted on long lease, high quality investment grade, diversified portfolio of a hyperscaler. Very happy with the mix and the growth trajectory of that business. What was the second question? Can you repeat it about Oman?

Speaker #2: I think we'll probably get there two years ahead of plan. Given the pipeline and the strength of the demand we're seeing—again, we don't build data centers on an opportunistic basis. Meaning, we're not, "Let's build a data center and then see who we can lease it to."

Speaker #2: We only build to suit. So all the new builds are fully committed, contracted on long lease, high-quality investment-grade, hyperscaler, device-diversified portfolio of a hyperscaler.

Speaker #2: So, very happy with the mix and the growth trajectory of that business. What was the second question? Can you repeat it—about Oman?

Speaker #4: Oman is basically—we're hearing that there's more focus, like not the countries in terms of digital infrastructure and all that, and what's happened due to the conflict, hopefully.

Alowi Alimirah: Oman is basically we're hearing that there's more focus, like in other countries in terms of digital infrastructure and all of that and what's happened due to the conflict, hopefully.

Speaker #2: So, Oman for us is one of the strategic markets as a telco. It's also a strategic market for the infrastructure side, given the geographic nature of Oman.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Oman for us is one, a strategic market. The telco is also a strategic market for the infrastructure side, given the geographic nature of Oman. This is where all the cables coming from Asia land. They land in Oman. Similarly, all the traditional cables coming from Europe also land in Oman. It is the connectivity hub between Europe and Asia. Naturally there's a strong focus on infrastructure in Oman. A number of our international connectivity projects emanate from Oman, whether it's SONIC or FIG. These are hard developments in Oman. In terms of towers, I've answered that question. We're not doing anything on the tower side, especially due to some regulatory issues we had in the past there. In terms of data centers, we have data centers in Oman.

Speaker #2: This is where all the cables coming from Asia land—they land in Oman. And similarly, all the traditional cables coming from Europe also land in Oman.

Speaker #2: It is the connectivity hub between Europe and Asia, so naturally, there’s a strong focus on infrastructure in Oman. A number of our international connectivity projects emanate from Oman, whether it’s the Sonic Cable or FIG.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Naturally there's a strong focus on infrastructure in Oman. A number of our international connectivity projects emanate from Oman, whether it's SONIC or FIG. These are hard developments in Oman. In terms of towers, I've answered that question. We're not doing anything on the tower side, especially due to some regulatory issues we had in the past there. In terms of data centers, we have data centers in Oman.

Speaker #2: These are hard developments in Oman. In terms of towers, I’ve answered that question. We’re not doing anything on the tower side, especially due to some regulatory issues we had in the past there.

Speaker #2: In terms of data centers, we have data centers in Oman. Regulatory approvals for us to build new data centers outside of Ooredoo Oman itself, but through Cintus as the core strategy, is a process that is ongoing in Oman.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Regulatory approvals for us to build new data centers outside of Ooredoo Oman itself, but through Syntys as a core strategy is a process we're ongoing in Oman. It's a lengthy process, like all regulatory approval in Oman.

Speaker #2: It's a lengthy process, like all regulatory approval in Oman.

Speaker #4: Thank you. Thank you very much.

Alowi Alimirah: Thank you. Thank you very much.

Speaker #1: Thank you, Aloe. Now I'll turn to my questions. The first one, from an anonymous attendee: Can you shed some light on the one-off in Algeria?

Ali Serdar: Thank you, Alowi. Now I'll turn to typed questions. The first one from an anonymous attendee. Can you shed some light on the one-off in Algeria? Any other expected one-offs during this year or in the medium term? Your dividend policy is based on normalized net income and shouldn't be affected by this. Should we expect Ooredoo Kuwait to also adopt a similar view on the dividend this year?

Speaker #1: Are there any other expected one-offs during this year or in the medium term? Your dividend policy is based on normalized net income and shouldn’t be affected by this.

Speaker #1: But should we expect Ooredoo Kuwait to also adopt a similar view on the dividend this year?

Speaker #2: As you said, our dividend policy is based on normalized income. That being said, even the impact on net income is quite de minimis.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Long winded, as you said, our dividend policy is based on normalized income. That being said, even the impact on net income is quite de minimis. As a number of you analysts keep highlighting the amount of cash or the low leverage we have, I don't expect a one-off like this nature to impact in any way, shape, or form our dividend policy or dividend payouts. Again, our dividend policy is based on normalized. As you know, dividends is recommended by the management, but is a purview of the board. The nature, this was an old court case in Algeria, I think dating from 2018 or 2019, in relation to the central bank and the treatment of foreign currency for roaming. It's been an ongoing case.

Speaker #2: As a number of your analysts keep highlighting the amount of cash, or the low leverage we have, I don't expect a one-off of this nature to impact, in any way, shape, or form, our dividend policy or dividend payouts.

Speaker #2: And again, our dividend policy is based on normalized earnings. As you know, dividend is recommended by management, but it is the purview of the Board.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Again, our dividend policy is based on normalized. As you know, dividends is recommended by the management, but is a purview of the board. The nature, this was an old court case in Algeria, I think dating from 2018 or 2019, in relation to the central bank and the treatment of foreign currency for roaming. It's been an ongoing case.

Speaker #2: This was an old court case in Algeria, I think dating from 2018 or 2019, in relation to the central bank and the treatment of foreign currency for roaming. It's been an ongoing case under the advice of our auditors, and as it's standard practice, you have to fully provision the court case, or you don't provision anything.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Under the advice of our auditors and as a standard practice, you have to fully provision the court case or you don't provision anything, and the determination on the provisioning of the court case or not is determined by outside counsel on the likely outcome of winning or losing the case. As the advice we had had, legal advice, and not from one, but a number of law firms, as this was a very strong case, and in any normal situation, we should have won. This is why we didn't provision it. Right now, we don't foresee any major other one-off of this nature.

Speaker #2: And the determination on the provisioning of the court case or not is determined by outside counsel on the likely outcome of winning or losing the case.

Speaker #2: As the advice we had had—legal advice, and not from one, but a number of law firms—as this was a very strong case, and in any normal situation we should have won, this is why we didn't provision it.

Speaker #2: Right now, we don't foresee any other major one-off of this nature.

Speaker #1: Thank you, Aziz. Next question from Nikhil. In Kuwait, in spite of the overall population going up, prepaid subscribers have seen quite a fall, along with postpaid and wireless broadband, on a quarter-over-quarter basis.

Ali Serdar: Thank you, Aziz. Next typed question from Nikhil Phutane. In Kuwait, in spite of its overall population going up, the paid subscribers have seemed quite a fall along with postpaid and wireless broadband on a quarter-over-quarter basis. Are there any strategies in place, like aggressive marketing for improving the customer base?

Speaker #1: Are there any strategies in place, like aggressive marketing, for improving the customer base?

Speaker #2: So I will caveat even my own response, but I'm not sure we're seeing population growth in Kuwait. What I think we've been seeing is a slow erosion, actually, of the expatriate base in Kuwait.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: I will caveat on even my own response, but I'm not sure we're seeing population growing in Kuwait. What I think we've been seeing is a slow erosion, actually, of the expatriate base in Kuwait, and I think the recent events has not facilitated that basis. I'm not sure of my response. I should check it, but I'm not sure about the first statement of your question. In terms of market share, look, we have one discipline in Kuwait, but we apply everywhere, is we're very focused on, as I like to call it, profitable revenue share. The inherent old approach of chasing revenue at any cost, which is very high cost of acquisition, very low stickiness and high churn, or which is known in the industry as the washing machine to try and bolster KPIs at the top line is not a practice of ours.

Speaker #2: And I think the recent events have not facilitated that basis. So I'm not sure of my response. I should check it, but I'm not sure about the first statement of your question.

Speaker #2: In terms of market share, look, we have one discipline in Kuwait, but we apply it everywhere. We're very focused on, as I like to call it, profitable revenue share.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: In terms of market share, look, we have one discipline in Kuwait, but we apply everywhere, is we're very focused on, as I like to call it, profitable revenue share. The inherent old approach of chasing revenue at any cost, which is very high cost of acquisition, very low stickiness and high churn, or which is known in the industry as the washing machine to try and bolster KPIs at the top line is not a practice of ours. We're extremely focused on making sure in any segment, whether it's the prepaid or the postpaid, we are targeting healthy margin revenue and not targeting the washing machine.

Speaker #2: And the inherent old approach at any cost, which is very high cost of acquisition, very low stickiness, and high churn—or which is known in the industry as the washing machine to try and bolster KPIs at the top line—is not a practice of ours.

Speaker #2: So, we're extremely focused on making sure, in any segment—whether it's prepaid or postpaid—that we are targeting healthy-margin revenue and not targeting the 'washing machine.'

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: We're extremely focused on making sure in any segment, whether it's the prepaid or the postpaid, we are targeting healthy margin revenue and not targeting the washing machine.

Speaker #1: And that's reflected in the increase in revenue in prepaid and postpaid in Kuwait. So, if we look into the service revenue in Kuwait, it has been increasing over the comparable period of last year.

Fadia Abdullatif: That's reflected in the increase in revenue in prepaid and postpaid in Kuwait. If we look into the service revenue in Kuwait, has been increasing over the comparable period of last year.

Fadi Abdellatif: That's reflected in the increase in revenue in prepaid and postpaid in Kuwait. If we look into the service revenue in Kuwait, has been increasing over the comparable period of last year.

Speaker #3: And I can also further add regarding the postpaid customer base in Kuwait: the device availability also affects it.

Ali Serdar: I can further add regarding the postpaid customer base in Kuwait, the device availability.

Fadia Abdullatif: Yes

Fadi Abdellatif: Yes

Ali Serdar: improves. The next question from an anonymous attendee, can you give more clarity on the provision and will it have any impact on dividends?

Speaker #1: Yes.

Speaker #3: The next question is from an anonymous attendee. Can you give more clarity on the provision, and will it have an impact on dividends? I think.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: I think we've already answered that.

Speaker #3: Yeah, Algeria.

Ali Serdar: Nigeria.

Speaker #2: I think it's the same anonymous.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: I think it's the same anonymous. Yeah. Quite active anonymous from what I can see too.

Speaker #3: Yeah.

Speaker #2: Quite active, anonymous, from what I can see.

Ali Serdar: The next one is also an anonymous. How are you expect to steer investments further into ICT digital platform businesses further in coming years, as these are not often margin-accretive businesses versus core telecom services?

Speaker #3: The next one is also anonymous. How are you expected to steer investments further into ICT and digital platform businesses over the coming years, as these are not often as margin-equitative as core telecom services?

Speaker #2: So, we've had that discussion internally—that debate—for a while. At the same time, it's clearly stated in our strategy, and I'll link it to my previous answer on revenues in Kuwait.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: We've had that discussion internally, that debate for a while. At the same time, it's clearly stated in our strategy, and I'll link it to my previous answer on revenues in Kuwait. We're extremely focused on margin-accretive and value-accretive businesses. We're not there to chase very high revenue with very low margins. That's why, compared to a number of our peers in the region, our endeavors in the core ICT business have been quite moderate because we only target the parts of ICT where, of course, we have a competitive angle, but where that business by itself is sufficiently margin-accretive or has sufficient levels of margin. Usually, if you add up with ancillary core telecom services, you have significant margin accretion. If ICT service doesn't fulfill that equation, we're not that interested in them.

Speaker #2: We're extremely focused on margin-accretive and value-accretive businesses. We're not here to chase very high revenue with very low margins. That's why, compared to a number of our peers in the region, our endeavors in the core ICT business have been quite moderate.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: That's why, compared to a number of our peers in the region, our endeavors in the core ICT business have been quite moderate because we only target the parts of ICT where, of course, we have a competitive angle, but where that business by itself is sufficiently margin-accretive or has sufficient levels of margin. Usually, if you add up with ancillary core telecom services, you have significant margin accretion. If ICT service doesn't fulfill that equation, we're not that interested in them.

Speaker #2: Because we only target the parts of ICT where, of course, we have a competitive angle, but where that business by itself is sufficiently margin-accretive, or has sufficient levels of margin. And usually, if you add up with ancillary core telecom services, you have significant margin accretion.

Speaker #2: If ICT service doesn't fulfill that equation, we're not that interested in them. Platform businesses, sorry, on the other hand, which is trying to monetize existing businesses—we have a very simple notion of platform businesses: it is our API business.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Platform businesses, on the other hand, which is trying to monetize existing businesses we have, very simple notion of platform businesses is our API business. To backtrack, and I don't know how public this was or how much time we spent on it, if you go back three years ago, Ooredoo as a group as a whole was quite behind the curve in terms of APIs implementation across its operation. As of last year, we're a platinum member of TM Forum. I think we have the highest number of APIs published out there within the region, so we're very proud of it. Just having APIs by itself, okay, facilitates our own business, the next step is to see how do you monetize that business.

Speaker #2: Backtrack—and I don't know how public this was or how much time we spent on it—but if you go back three years ago, Ooredoo as a group, as a whole, was quite behind the curve in terms of API implementation across its operation.

Speaker #2: As of last year, we're a Platinum member of TM Forum. I think we have the highest number of APIs published out there within the region.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: As of last year, we're a platinum member of TM Forum. I think we have the highest number of APIs published out there within the region, so we're very proud of it. Just having APIs by itself, okay, facilitates our own business, the next step is to see how do you monetize that business.

Speaker #2: So we're very proud of it. But just having APIs by itself, okay, facilitates our own business, but then the next step is to see how you monetize that business.

Speaker #2: As of this year, we're generating around $14 million of EBITDA just out of APIs alone, and we're looking to grow that business even further.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: As of this year, we're generating around QAR 14 million of EBITDA just out of APIs alone, and we're looking to grow that business even further. These are the type of platform businesses where we do see significant margin enhancements because these are investments we're doing first and foremost to run our business. If we can monetize them at the back of it's a great equation.

Speaker #2: So these are the types of platform businesses where we do see significant margin enhancements, because these are investments we're making first and foremost to run our business. But if we can monetize them at the back of it, it's a great equation.

Speaker #1: Thank you, Aziz. Next question is from Mohammed Muzaffar. As Ooredoo observed market demand shrinkage impacting GCC countries—B2C and B2B markets mainly—I think we have sort of covered that. You mentioned the resilience of the service revenues, especially.

Ali Serdar: Thank you, Aziz. Next question is from Mohammed Moawalla. Has Ooredoo observed market demand shrinking in impacted GCC countries, B2C, B2B markets mainly? I think we have sort of covered that. You mentioned the resilience of the service revenues, especially.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Yeah. The service of the resilience of the businesses, as you can see, I have the page open here, despite what is happening, we still have 10.4 megawatts of new commitments. That's for B2B for instance, in Syntys. As a whole, I think that was something that always I was asked to explain, why is Ooredoo's, Is it a strength or weakness to have Ooredoo with a such diversified footprint within the MENA region and with Indonesia? I think a case like today proves it. Despite what is happening in the region, we still have very strong growth engines outside of the region, delivering top-line growth, EBITDA accretive growth, and free cash flow growth. I think above the discipline of the business and the management, I think the portfolio exercise we have done to restructure the business is also showing its fruit in times of crisis like today.

Speaker #2: Yeah. So, service of the resilience of the businesses, and as you can see—despite, I have the page open here—despite what is happening, we still have 10.4 megawatts of new commitments. That's for B2B, for instance, incentives.

Speaker #2: But as a whole, I think that was something that always I was asked to explain. Why is Ooredoo's is it a strength or weakness to have Ooredoo with a such diversified footprint within the MENA region and with Indonesia?

Speaker #2: I think a case like today proves it. Despite what is happening in the region, we still have very strong growth engines outside of the region delivering top-line growth, EBITDA-accretive growth, and free cash flow growth.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: I think a case like today proves it. Despite what is happening in the region, we still have very strong growth engines outside of the region, delivering top-line growth, EBITDA accretive growth, and free cash flow growth. I think above the discipline of the business and the management, I think the portfolio exercise we have done to restructure the business is also showing its fruit in times of crisis like today.

Speaker #2: So I think, above the discipline of the business and the management, the portfolio exercise we have done to restructure the business is also showing its fruit in times of crisis like today.

Speaker #1: Thank you. The next question, again anonymous, regarding device sales, but I think you covered that, so I'll go to the next one. Can you give more color on the fixed line of revenue in Qatar, and how do you view the trend going forward?

Ali Serdar: Thank you. The next question, again, anonymous regarding device sales, I think you covered that.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: I covered that as well.

Ali Serdar: I'll go to the next one. Can you give more color on the fixed line of revenue in Qatar, and how do you view the trend going forward? Fixed revenue in Qatar.

Speaker #1: Fixed revenues in Qatar.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Okay, yeah. Look, it's a recurring question, and I do appreciate it. If you backtrack around 24 months ago or three years ago, Ooredoo Qatar had close to 90% market share in the fixed line business. We are actually considered by the regulator as dominant in the fixed line business. That means there are certain price incentive we are not allowed to have and a bit more flexibility to our competitor. Defending a 90%

Speaker #2: That’s fixed, okay? Yeah. So, look, it's a recurring question and I do appreciate it. If you backtrack around 24 months ago, or three years ago, Ooredoo Qatar had close to 90% market share in the fixed line business.

Speaker #2: We are actually considered by the regulator as dominant in the fixed line business. That means there are certain price incentives we are not allowed to have, and a bit more flexibility given to our competitor.

Speaker #2: Defending a 90% market share is virtually impossible. What we are trying to manage is as slow as possible a reduction in that market share. Today, we're closer to an 80% market share.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Market share is virtually impossible. What we're trying to manage is as slow as possible reduction in that market share. Today, we're closer to the 80% market share. The goal is to maintain a market share in the fixed line business, that's a long-term goal, which is a mirror to our overall market share, which is 70%. I think that's the rightful part.

Speaker #2: And the goal is to maintain a market share in the fixed line business, which is a mirror to our overall market share. That's a long-term goal, which is a mirror to our overall market share, which is 70%.

Speaker #2: I think that's the rightful part.

Ali Serdar: Next question is again from Mohammed Moawalla. How much DC capacity is for GPU as a service, and what are your expectations on the AI demand in the region?

Speaker #1: Next question is again from Mohammed Muzaffar. How much do you see capacities for GPU as a service, and what are your expectations on the AI demand in the region?

Speaker #2: We do not disclose the makeup of DC capacity because we're bound by confidentiality agreements with our clients. As you know, going to AI—as you know, Ooredoo was the first telco in the region to be an NCP.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: We do not disclose makeup of DC capacity because we are bound by confidentiality agreements with our clients. As you know, going to AI, as you know, Ooredoo was the first telco in the region to be an NCP. We today have AI chips deployed in a number of our markets. That includes Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Iraq as well, Tunisia, even Algeria, right? We have a few there. We are seeing, of course, as the local demand in terms of AI services expands, there is demand for AI chips. We benefit from quite stringent and, I think, wise regulation on data residency. That means any corporate or government service which requires AI models using local data or customer data has to be treated in Qatar or in respective countries, which is a fuel for growth for our AI and data center businesses.

Speaker #2: We today have AI chips deployed in a number of our markets. That includes Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, I think Iraq as well, Tunisia, even Algeria, right?

Speaker #2: We have a few there. So, we are seeing, of course, as the local demand in terms of AI services expands, there is demand for AI chips.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: We are seeing, of course, as the local demand in terms of AI services expands, there is demand for AI chips. We benefit from quite stringent and, I think, wise regulation on data residency. That means any corporate or government service which requires AI models using local data or customer data has to be treated in Qatar or in respective countries, which is a fuel for growth for our AI and data center businesses.

Speaker #2: We benefit from quite stringent, and I think wide, regulation on data residency. That means any corporate or government service which requires AI models using local data or customer data has to be treated in Qatar or in respective countries, which is a fuel for growth for our AI and data center businesses.

Speaker #1: Thank you. These are the last type of questions that I see about the net profit, and the one we have covered as well.

Ali Serdar: Thank you. This is the last type of question that I see about the net profit and the one-off. We have covered this one as well.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: A lot of us is very focused on that question. Three times in a row.

Speaker #2: I don't know. This is very focused on that question—three times in a row. No, actually, I...

Fadia Abdullatif: No, actually, I think this question is not about the net profit, it's about the share of associate profit net line, which could probably mean the divestiture of the fiber business in Indosat.

Fadi Abdellatif: No, actually, I think this question is not about the net profit, it's about the share of associate profit net line, which could probably mean the divestiture of the fiber business in Indosat.

Speaker #3: I think this question is not about what the net profit is, but about the share of associate profit deadline, which could probably mean the diversion of the fiber business into that.

Speaker #2: Can you provide some color on the share of associate profit line, where there's any? Oh, yeah. Do you want to take it?

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Can you provide some color on the share of associate profit line? Where there's any Oh, yeah. Do you want to take it?

Speaker #3: Yeah, sure. So there's a fiber business in Indusat that was divested during the period. The relevant profit or gain on that sale is effectively booked in the quarter, Q2 of this year.

Fadia Abdullatif: Yeah, sure. There's a fiber business in Indosat that was divested during the period. The relevant profits or gain on that sale is effectively booked in the quarter Q2 of this year.

Fadi Abdellatif: Yeah, sure. There's a fiber business in Indosat that was divested during the period. The relevant profits or gain on that sale is effectively booked in the quarter Q2 of this year.

Speaker #1: Thank you, Fanny. I don't see any further questions. But as a final reminder, if you have any questions, please raise your virtual hand. All right, I don't see any further questions.

Ali Serdar: Thank you, Fadia. I don't see any further questions, but a final reminder, if you have any questions, please raise your virtual hand. All right. I don't see any further questions. Since there are no further questions, I would like to thank everyone for joining us today. Our next release will be obviously our Q3 results, expected at the end of October, most probably. If you have any follow-up questions, please feel free to contact us at the IR team. Thank you again. Any closing remarks, Fadia?

Ali Serdar: Thank you, Fadi. I don't see any further questions, but a final reminder, if you have any questions, please raise your virtual hand. All right. I don't see any further questions. Since there are no further questions, I would like to thank everyone for joining us today. Our next release will be obviously our Q3 results, expected at the end of October, most probably. If you have any follow-up questions, please feel free to contact us at the IR team. Thank you again. Any closing remarks, Fadi?

Speaker #1: So, since there are no further questions, I'd like to thank everyone for joining us today. Our next release will be, obviously, our third quarter results, expected at the end of October, most probably.

Speaker #1: If you have any follow-up questions, please feel free to contact us, the IR team. Thank you again. Any closing remarks from?

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: No. For those which haven't taken it yet, I wish you all a nice summer break if any of you are taking it. I know I am just after this call.

Speaker #2: No, for those who haven't taken it yet, I wish you all a nice summer break. If any of you are taking it—I know I am, just after this call.

Speaker #1: Thank you.

Ali Serdar: Thank you.

Speaker #2: Thank you.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo: Thank you.

Speaker #1: Thank you very much.

Ali Serdar: Thanks very much.

Operator: Goodbye

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Q2 2026 Ooredoo QPSC Earnings Call

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