In the subsea cable sector, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) acts as a transit hub and regional interconnection point rather than a primary landing site for numerous cables. While many subsea cables land in nearby countries, the UAE provides the infrastructure to route, process, and distribute this data regionally and internationally.
For this reason, Dubai and Abu Dhabi host some of the most advanced data centers and internet exchanges in the region, acting as a hub for cloud services and content distribution.
Rather than focusing on cable landings, the UAE is actively involved in investments and partnerships concerning global subsea cable projects. These include the following:
- 2Africa
- The 2Africa consortium, comprising Bayobab, center3, China Mobile International, Meta, Orange, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone Group, and WIOCC, is set to launch the world’s longest subsea cable project. This ambitious initiative spans 45,000 km, connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa. Notably, it will be the UAE's largest subsea cable system to date, with Kalba chosen as its gateway.
- Africa-1
- The Africa-1 consortium formalized its Construction and Maintenance Agreement (C&MA) in December 2018 in Dubai, underscoring the UAE’s role as a key hub for global connectivity. Currently, the consortium includes e&, Algerie Telecom, G42, Mobily, Pakistan Telecommunications Company Ltd. (PTCL), Telecom Egypt, TeleYemen, and ZOI. The Africa-1 submarine cable, designed to enhance intercontinental connectivity, is set to be fully operational by early 2026.
- Asia-Africa-Europe-1 (AAE-1)
- Established in 2017, the AAE-1 is the first next-generation cable system to link all major Asian, African, Middle Eastern, and European nations via the lowest latency subsea route. This subsea cable landed in Fujairah and act as a high-speed gateway connecting the UAE to Hong Kong and Singapore with multiple onward-connectivity options in Europe featuring unique landing points in Greece, Italy, and France.
- Europe India Gateway (EIG)
- The EIG cable system is a 15,000 km submarine line that links the UK with Gibraltar, Portugal, Monaco, France, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Oman, the UAE, and India. This is the first direct, high-bandwidth optical-fiber undersea cable system covering the distance between the United Kingdom and India. It has been upgraded with Ciena's GeoMesh and powered by WaveLogic Ai coherent optics.
- FALCON
- The FALCON system incorporates the Gulf region’s first self-healing submarine network ring, providing all countries connected to the high-capacity cable with extremely reliable, high-quality connectivity. It acts as the backbone, delivering advanced broadband services throughout MENA and India, which have been traditionally under-serviced with high-capacity broadband connectivity. In 2006, this submarine cable landing station was deemed a significant milestone as it was du’s first international landing station in the Arabian Gulf and enhanced the UAE's global connectivity by providing greater diversity and reliability.
- Oman Emirates Gateway (OEG)
- In March 2023, Omantel and du came together to link the Sultanate of Oman and the UAE through a newly activated 275 km international fiber optic submarine cable to meet evolving market demands, scale up speed, expand connectivity, deliver enhanced customer experience, and provide wider commercial offerings.
- Al Khaleej Subsea Cable
- Batelco exclusively owns the Al Khaleej cable, a branch of the 21,700 km SEA-ME-WE 6 system connecting Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Western Europe. Manufactured and installed by SubCom, the cable is set to go live by Q2 2026, featuring 10 fiber pairs with a capacity of 12.6 Tbps per pair.
- PEACE Cable Gulf Extension
- Set to be ready for service (RFS) in the second half of 2026, the PEACE Gulf Extension will expand the PEACE Cable’s existing trunk segment to the UAE, further integrating the country into a 22,000 km network spanning three continents. du has been appointed as the exclusive UAE partner for the Pakistan & East Africa Connecting Europe (PEACE) subsea cable project, securing the nation’s sole landing point for the system.
- Gulf Bridge International Cable System (GBICS)
- Privately owned by Gulf Bridge International, this subsea cable features a self-healing core ring in the Gulf, ensuring enhanced resilience. It includes dual cable landings at major terminals in Qatar and Fujairah (UAE), with additional branches in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman. The system also extends its reach to India and Europe, strengthening regional and global connectivity.
- Trans Europe Asia System (TEAS)
- The Trans Europe Asia System (TEAS) by Cinturion seamlessly integrates two new connections across the Arabian and Mediterranean Seas, extending through multiple routes across the Arabian Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Red Sea. TEAS, an "open-access" submarine and terrestrial network, is hosted by du, enhances connectivity, and expands digital infrastructure across the UAE and beyond.
Redundancy and Resilience for Global Networks
The UAE’s busy coastline, characterized by significant maritime activity, oil infrastructure, and urban development, limits the available space for subsea cable landing stations. Yet, the UAE ensures that global traffic can be rerouted efficiently in case of disruptions. With high-capacity terrestrial connections and backup routes through different subsea systems, it serves as a resilient node in global internet infrastructure.
Rather than hosting a large number of cables, the UAE has focused on becoming a major data center hub and regional exchange point. High-capacity cables that pass through the UAE meet the demand for connectivity without requiring additional landings. Agreements with countries like India, Europe, and Africa ensure robust connectivity via existing routes.
The UAE’s Advanced Digital Ecosystem
As the digital economy continues to expand, the UAE is positioning itself as a central force in global connectivity; not just as a transit hub but as a key enabler of high-capacity, resilient infrastructure. By strategically investing in subsea cable projects, data centers, and regional interconnection points, the UAE is future-proofing its role in the evolving digital landscape.
As demand for low-latency, high-bandwidth networks grows, the UAE’s advanced digital ecosystem will continue to drive innovation, strengthen global partnerships, and set new benchmarks for seamless, secure, and efficient connectivity across continents.
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