Report covers initiatives in education, healthcare, environment, women's rights and community development

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 21, 2013 - Etisalat Group today launched its first major global Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability report in a bid to highlight and coordinate philanthropic and community-based activities across its 15 operating countries.

The document, "Etisalat CSR & Sustainability Report 2012", was released at IIR's tenth CSR Summit, which is being held at The Address Dubai Marina from May 21 to 22.

"This report is an important step for Etisalat to achieve its goal of embedding a socially responsible culture through its operations in general," said Ahmed Bin Ali, the Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications, Etisalat Group, who took part in a panel today. "It will enable us to share the positive contributions we make globally and encourage new ideas and initiatives."

In 2012, Etisalat's sustainability and social responsibility strategy evolved as it undertook several commitments to ensure better coordination across is global operations, including a pledge of support to the United National Global Compact. It has also published environmental and procurement policies within the report as concrete steps to support the UNGC Principles.

In 2012 the Etisalat Group has supported more than 40 development, humanitarian and charity projects across its footprint.

Etisalat has been active in Egypt through many initiatives such as "Origin", a project to help meet the challenges of water security that has been implemented in 19 governorates to date. Etisalat contributed to assist UNICEF to supply about 1,000 households with drinking water in the governorate of Qena in Upper Egypt, as well as to supply around 1000 water connections to unfortunate families in 3 other governorates. This is in addition to the provision of 31 kidney dialysis machines and stations across many hospitals over the country. Lastly, chlorination stations were installed to serve 400,000 beneficiaries in the governorate of Suhag in Upper Egypt.

Other African countries, such as Togo, have had aid contributions split between education and health. Etisalat supported education projects including the provision of scholarships for girls, building classrooms and generally contributed to the rehabilitation and restoration of schools. Additionally, other projects in the country include work on securing the drinking water supply, and distribution of food aid and assistance. The company is providing 300 laptop computers in 60 schools and is constructing computer labs in the five main regions of the countries.

Etisalat has also pursued social development with an emphasis on educational initiatives in countries such as Nigeria. The West African country has received aid through its annual Merit Awards Scheme - an educational scholarship program that focuses on undergraduate students of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Computer Science, and Business Management courses, in their second and third years of study in Nigerian universities. Other initiatives include the Adopt-A-School program, Career Counselling Scheme, Teacher Training Programme, fight malaria project.

The aid to Afghanistan for projects of a charitable, social and religious nature, this includes the distribution of more than 3,000 food packages containing basic food items to needy families in Kabul during the holy month of Ramadan; Etisalat Afghanistan has also facilitated pilgrimages, and supported the annual competition to memorize the Holy Quran. The education sector was supported by projects such as building computer labs and classrooms at several universities and educational institutes.

In Benin, the telecommunications company has supported educational projects, including the provision of supplies for elementary school students and the provision of seating and tables for nine colleges. Additionally the company has supported the Ministry of Health in Benin through blood donations.

The telecommunications company also provided assistance to both Sri Lanka and Pakistan for water projects, sanitation aid, education, as well as aid to orphans.

"In addition to healthcare and educational initiatives, Etisalat has made great efforts to reduce its environmental footprint and committed to a 'Go Green' strategy," Mr Bin Ali said. "This is exemplified in the Energy Star Initiative, which is cutting greenhouse gas emissions in the UAE. We estimate participants have seen a 15 to 20 per cent reduction in electricity consumption and we aim to initiate the project in Saudi Arabia this year."

Links to Etisalat CSR and the summit are below:

etisalat.com/en/about/profile/company-profile.jsp

http://etisalat.com/en/about/profile/etisalat-csr.jsp

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About Etisalat:
Strong commitment to excellence and innovation has seen Etisalat become one of the world's fastest-growing telecom groups, rapidly expanding across Asia and Africa. Its UAE operations, strategically located at the crossroads of East and West, enables Etisalat to be the major hub in the Middle East for Internet, voice, broadcast, roaming and corporate data services. Etisalat has been recognised as 'Best Operator' 10 times since 2006 and 'Best Wholesale Provider' four times in the last three years. Servicing 141 million customers in 15 countries Etisalat continues to reach out to new customers and markets.

For more information: - www.etisalat.com

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© Press Release 2013