Dubai, UAE: e& UAE, the flagship telecom arm of global technology group e&, today announced a strategic collaboration with Intel at GITEX Global  to establish an AI Centre of Excellence (COE) and co-develop revolutionary edge AI solutions.

The COE will provide a dedicated environment for testing and optimising large language models (LLMs) on Intel Gaudi 3 AI accelerators, which is Intel’s data-centre platform designed for inference of large AI models that provides one of the best in class cost of ownership. The COE streamlines the model lifecycle from experimentation to production. This will accelerate how AI-powered services are built, evaluated and moved into production across e& UAE.

Marwan Bin Shakar, Acting Chief Technology Officer, e& UAE, said: “Our partnership with Intel marks a key milestone in building an AI-native telecom infrastructure. Through the AI Centre of Excellence and edge AI initiatives, we will accelerate large language model development, bring intelligence to the network edge, and extend these capabilities to enterprises across industries, positioning e& UAE at the forefront of the AI revolution. With the COE, we’re standardising how models are tested, optimised and moved into production, improving performance, cost-efficiency and time-to-value for enterprises across the UAE. Together, we’re turning promising AI prototypes into reliable, scalable services that elevate our network and our customers’ operations.”

Renu Navale, Vice President and GM, Smart Cities, Intel, added: “Intel is delighted to have finalised this collaboration agreement with e& UAE. Moving forward, we will support our partner's efforts to drive digital transformation and launch scalable, reliable, and secure AI services for edge and critical infrastructure with affordable technologies from Intel. In addition, Intel’s portfolio enables new AI models and inferencing at the edge helping ISV’s rapidly build industry-specific Edge AI solutions without lock-in.”

The edge AI solutions will position e& UAE as a key enabler of AI transformation across multiple industry verticals, delivering tailored AI-at-the-edge services to enterprise customers. Powered by Intel Core Ultra processors, Intel Xeon processors and Intel GPUs, these solutions will deliver real-time AI capabilities closer to end-users.

This collaboration between Intel and e& UAE's technology teams creates a comprehensive AI ecosystem that spans from centralised AI model development to distributed edge computing. The AI COE will serve as a testing ground for AI applications across e& UAE's network infrastructure and extend these capabilities to enterprise customers across diverse industries. Together, these initiatives aim to enhance operational efficiency, improve customer experiences, and drive innovation across e& UAE's telecommunications services while strengthening the company’s role as a leading AI infrastructure provider in the UAE.

Through this announcement, e& UAE is advancing its technological capabilities to deliver practical, secure and scalable AI services across the UAE. This agreement aligns with the group's broader AI strategy, which leverages AI and data analytics to foster operational excellence and support sustainability.

About e&

e& is a global technology group committed to advancing the digital future across markets in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe. With the group's financial performance in 2023 showing a consolidated net revenue of AED 53.8 billion and a net profit of AED 10.3 billion, e& continues to maintain its position as a financial powerhouse, reflected by its strong credit rating and solid balance sheet.

Founded in Abu Dhabi over 48 years ago, e& has evolved from a telecom pioneer into a technology group. Its footprint now spans 38 countries, offering a comprehensive portfolio of innovative digital services ranging from advanced connectivity, entertainment, streaming and financial services to AI-powered solutions, cloud computing, ICT, cybersecurity and IoT platforms.

The Group is structured around five core business pillars: e& UAE, e& international, e& life, e& enterprise and e& capital, each catering to distinct customer and market needs. These pillars empower e& to lead in various sectors, from telecom and digital lifestyle to enterprise services and venture investments. The ongoing strategic investments in AI, IoT, 5G and cloud services reinforce its leadership in the global technology landscape, driving the future of smart connectivity and innovation.

Driven by innovation, sustainability and a commitment to digital empowerment, e& is set on creating a smarter, more connected future for individuals, businesses and communities.

To learn more about e&, visit eand.com.

About e& UAE

e& UAE is the flagship telecom arm of e& in the UAE, built on a 5-decades legacy of connectivity excellence. Our mission is to deliver world-class superior connectivity experiences that fuel the UAE’s future-focused innovation.

Leveraging the latest world-class technologies, e& UAE aims to transform lives and industries, turning every connection into an opportunity for growth and every interaction into a transformative possibility.

We are focused on expanding our core services and digital marketplaces by enriching consumer value propositions that cater to new lifestyles and emerging demands beyond core telecom services, including health, insurance and gaming.

As a trusted enterprise partner, e& UAE continues to power entire industries with 5G and AI, delivering a tailored ecosystem of solutions to meet their connectivity needs and more, empowering them to automate, innovate, transform, and scale.

Strengthening our leadership position as an AI-powered telco, e& UAE delivers seamless connectivity, cutting-edge AI solutions, and sustainable innovation to uplift people and communities, and empower businesses and industries, so everyone thrives in a digital-first world.

To learn more about e& UAE, please visit: https://www.etisalat.ae