End-to-end AI, commercial 6G, billion-dollar financing, IoT rollout templates and super-app stocks

Across the Middle East and North Africa, 2026 has already delivered a run of stories on digital society advances. Recent Mobile World Live (MWL) reports capture the breadth of activity, from network financing in Türkiye to the UAE’s spectrum roadmap and sovereign AI ambitions in Saudi Arabia. 

UAE: first commercial U6GHz network launched 

The UAE has officially launched the world's first commercial Upper 6GHz (U6GHz) network and ecosystem. Announced at the SAMENA Council Leaders' Summit 2026 by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), the launch follows the UAE's 2024 allocation of the 6425–7125MHz band and 2025 field trials by e& and Huawei that reached 10Gbps user speeds. The GSMA, du, Nokia, HONOR and Tozed joined the commercialisation commitment alongside TDRA. Describing the band as central to unlocking 10Gbps connectivity and an early foothold for 6G, the GSMA's Head of MENA, Jawad Abbassi, also said that the Middle East region is well placed to gain first-mover advantages during the 5G-Advanced phase. Plans are in place to enable U6GHz for a large proportion of the UAE by 2028. 

Saudi Arabia: Humain and Accenture move AI from pilot to production 

Saudi state-backed AI company, Humain, has partnered with Accenture to help government and enterprises move beyond AI experimentation into full deployment. The alliance spans data and model governance, enterprise integration, workforce adoption and ongoing operations, with five priority areas: redesigning core business processes, embedding agentic capability into products, staff training, third-party partnerships, and security and governance. Humain's CEO, Tareq Amin, pointed to end-to-end delivery as a differentiation from more commonly found advisory-led models. The deal builds on Humain's existing achievements, which include an Arabic-language AI model and infrastructure partnerships with Qualcomm, Cisco and AMD, since the company's establishment by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in 2025. 

At MWC26 Doha, you can expect to find state-backed digital development budget holders under one roof with the businesses who make innovation come alive. Our exhibitors and sponsors get solutions seen by the people looking for MENA’s next big delivery partner. 

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Türkiye: Turkcell backs 5G with $1 billion in financing 

Lender confidence continues in Turkish telecoms, with Turkcell securing a billion-dollar syndicated loan from a group of 14 banks to fund its 5G and next-gen network investments. Structured under a Murabaha format, the loan launched at $500 m and doubled in size after strong demand from Middle Eastern and international lenders including Kuwait Finance House, BNP Paribas and Dubai Islamic Bank. The deal followed an October 2025 spectrum auction that raised $3 bn, with Turkcell the largest bidder, and landed as Türkiye prepared to switch on 5G on 1 April earlier this year.  

UAE: e& sells ride-hailing stake to Uber and expands into connected vehicles with Lenovo 

e& has agreed to sell a 12.5% stake in Careem Technologies to Uber for $100 m, reducing its holding to 37.5% while still retaining a foothold in the super-app business it helped to create. Uber already owns the other 50% of Careem Technologies, plus Careem’s ride-hailing business. e& said that Uber’s global platform expertise would be advantageous for Careem Technologies as it enters its next phase of growth. 

Elsewhere in its portfolio, e&'s Carrier & Wholesale Services unit has partnered with Lenovo Connect to expand connected vehicle and IoT services across multiple markets. The agreement leverages e&'s international network footprint, 5G strengths and regulatory expertise with Lenovo Connect's connectivity technology for electric vehicles and mobility applications. It’s hoped that the tie-up will simplify international rollouts for enterprises deploying simultaneous smart mobility solutions across markets. 

Getting your solutions seen where it counts 

Together, these Mobile World Live stories point to a region investing in infrastructure, spectrum management and AI at pace. As Official Broadcast Partner for MWC26 Doha, MWL's coverage reaches exactly the audience assembling for this year’s event in November: operators, regulators, ministerial delegations and enterprise decision makers already on the lookout for the latest in connectivity technology.  

The MWC Doha team can help you to plan your campaign with MWL alongside your exhibition activity or sponsorship. The earlier the story is placed, the harder it can work before, during and after the event. 

Securing MWL coverage ahead of, or during, the event means: 

  • Getting visibility for your business on a platform that attracts a regular viewership of regional telecoms and policy leaders 
  • Building credibility through association with a trusted, long-standing industry title 
  • Extending reach beyond the show floor to a year-round digital audience of 51% business decision makers 
  • Timing news to land alongside major regional milestones 
  • Acquiring rich data, reports and high-quality leads 
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