A Conversation with Sheikh Ali Bin Jabor Bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chief Executive Officer at Ooredoo Qatar

Qatar Living

06-05-2025

At Ooredoo, building a network has always been about more than just towers and technology—it's about empowering people and possibilities. In this conversation, CEO Sheikh Ali Bin Jabor Bin Mohammad Al Thani shares how the company is helping create a digital future where innovation, community, and opportunity go hand in hand.
1- Ooredoo Qatar has consistently delivered strong financial results. What factors are driving this continued success?
At Ooredoo, we believe that financial performance is ultimately a reflection of the value we deliver to our customers and the trust they place in us. I'm pleased to share that we have maintained strong, consistent profitability, supported by both the momentum of Qatar's booming tourism sector and the acceleration of nationwide digital transformation.
The recent growth in visitor numbers has led to a notable uplift in roaming revenues and pre-paid customer acquisitions, contributing significantly to our success.
At the same time, Qatar's focus on building a diversified, knowledge-based economy—aligned with the Qatar National Vision 2030—has driven higher demand for our digital solutions, cloud services, and smart connectivity offerings. As a result, we recorded an EBITDA margin that improved to a strong 53%, benefiting from ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiencies.
Ooredoo continues to be the leading broadband provider with nationwide coverage across all customer segments, offering innovative solutions that meet evolving end-user needs. Our broadband services, coupled with rich media content, remain the go-to choice for customers seeking premium entertainment options.
These results affirm that Ooredoo's strategy of investing in next-generation infrastructure, upgrading customer experiences, and supporting national initiatives is not only the right path for Qatar—but also the key to sustainable and inclusive growth for our company.
2- Why is network development and investment such a core focus for Ooredoo right now?
At Ooredoo, our network is the backbone of everything we do—and everything our customers rely on daily, from streaming videos and making calls to running businesses and even managing our nation's infrastructure.
We are continuously making substantial investments to modernise and strengthen this essential backbone of our community and economy. Since the FIFA World Cup, we have maintained this momentum, and we are performing ongoing upgrades of the mobile core network, which is in the final stages and is set to be completed soon.
This upgrade paves the way for the introduction of 5G Standalone (SA) technology—offering faster connectivity, ultra-low latency, and a robust foundation for next-generation innovations such as smart hospitals, autonomous vehicles, smart factories, port automation, and advanced educational tools. It also supports the rollout of 5G Advanced capabilities.
We have also partnered with global leaders to roll out cutting-edge equipment that helps improve speed, coverage, and energy efficiency. Alongside these upgrades, we are also enhancing our fixed network infrastructure, ensuring we can meet the rapidly increasing demand for high-speed, reliable broadband services for both consumers and businesses across Qatar.
All these investments are designed not only to support day-to-day needs but also to help realise Qatar's ambitions to be a leading digital hub in the region and globally, as outlined in the National Digital Agenda 2030,
launched by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, which aims to strengthen the digital economy and promote sustainable development.
3- How is Ooredoo's investment in the NVIDIA GPU platform different from the company's previous technology investments, and what makes it a game-changer for the future?
Ooredoo's investment in the NVIDIA GPU platform marks a significant shift from our previous technology investments because it's not just about upgrading infrastructure—it's about enabling a whole new wave of AI-driven innovation.
Unlike past investments focused on connectivity or traditional data services, this platform positions us at the forefront of advanced computing. It helps us to empower businesses, government organisations, and developers in Qatar with access to high-performance processing capabilities that were previously out of reach.
The platform will be available in Qatar by Q3 of this year. In the meantime, we have already started engaging with multiple business partners and enterprise customers to ensure they are ready to leverage these capabilities as soon as the platform goes live.
This move aligns with Qatar's National Vision 2030 by supporting smart cities, digital healthcare, and AI research. In essence, it transforms Ooredoo from a telecom operator into a digital enabler, making this investment a true game-changer for the future of Qatar's digital economy.
4- How do businesses and individuals benefit differently from these investments?
That's a great question—and one we always keep at the forefront of our minds before making any decision. For everyday users, our network upgrades mean videos that load instantly, calls that never drop, and the ability to work, game or study from anywhere.
For businesses, it opens up even more powerful tools for increased productivity, efficiency and growth. Through our comprehensive suite of solutions—including core fixed and mobile connectivity, Internet of Things (IoT) services, collaboration tools, data centre and cloud solutions, and cybersecurity offerings—we empower organisations to focus on growing their business and embed the digital transformation, while we take care of their technology needs.
Our collaborations with global technology leaders like Microsoft and Google, as well as our cloud platform hosted locally in Qatar, ensure that businesses have flexible, secure, and cost-effective cloud options. This not only keeps data secure and compliant with Qatari regulations but also improves operational speed, agility, and responsiveness.
For gamers, content creators, or anyone using rich applications like augmented or virtual reality, our cloud-native platforms and high-speed backhaul solutions ensure that these experiences are smooth, immersive, and ultra-responsive.
We are also significantly expanding the adoption of AI across our services and operations. AI enhances everything from predictive maintenance of networks to personalised customer care, allowing us to offer smarter, faster, and more seamless experiences across every touchpoint. An example of this was our launch of "Obot," our GPT-4o powered AI chatbot, now live across the Ooredoo App and website, delivering instant, personalised support to customers.
In parallel, we established a dedicated Data Governance Council to ensure responsible, scalable AI deployment across the organisation. These achievements are important steps in embedding AI at the heart of the value we deliver—supporting individuals and businesses through the very latest in emerging tech.
Ultimately, it's all about digitally empowering every customer—whether it's a student attending an online class, an entrepreneur accepting digital payments, or a large enterprise managing smart factories.
5- How does Ooredoo Qatar see its role in the community beyond providing telecom services?
At Ooredoo, being a telecommunications provider isn't just about digital connectivity—it's about being deeply and professionally connected to the communities we are honoured to serve.
One of our proudest moments each year is the Doha Marathon by Ooredoo. It has grown into one of the region's most inspiring sporting events, bringing together thousands of runners from all walks of life—young, old, amateur, professional—all united in spirit and purpose.
But our commitment goes beyond large-scale events. We're supporting sports development for youth, digital education programmes, and partnerships with NGOs to empower people with special needs, individuals with autism, and the elderly in our community.
During the holy month of Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr, we regularly launch a range of humanitarian initiatives, and we are proud to play our role as a community partner—not just a telecom operator.
Through these efforts, we're honoured to contribute to the human development goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 and to nurture a more inclusive, healthy, and connected society.
6- Ooredoo Qatar is renowned for its continuous innovation. Can you tell us more about your Home+ service and what makes it unique?
For us, innovation is always about one thing—making life better and simpler for our customers. We are proud to have launched Home+, our next-generation digital home experience, providing Endless Entertainment, Nationwide Coverage, and Ultra-Fast Connectivity.
One of the most exciting aspects of Home+ is the introduction of deviceless Ooredoo TV powered by AI solutions. Customers can now access their favourite entertainment directly through their smart TVs—without the need for an external set-top box. The AI integration allows for personalised content recommendations, smarter voice search features, and an intuitive viewing experience that adapts to individual preferences.
Beyond entertainment, Home+ redefines connectivity with Fibre-to-the-Room (FTTR) technology—bringing high-speed fibre connections directly to each room for a seamless, ultra-fast internet experience, even in larger villas and multi-storey homes. Ooredoo is proud to be the only provider in Qatar offering FTTR, setting a new benchmark for home connectivity.
Complementing this innovation, Home+ also features Wi-Fi 7, the latest and fastest industry standard. Delivered through our FTTR services, Wi-Fi 7 ensures the fastest, most stable wireless experience available today. With ultra-low latency and superior support for multiple connected devices, it empowers homes to be truly future-ready—perfect for gaming, remote work, smart living, and ultra-HD streaming.
7- Qatar is preparing to host the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Doha for the first time ever in the region. What does this mean for Ooredoo and for the country as a whole?
This is a defining moment for us at Ooredoo and for Qatar as a nation. Hosting MWC Doha—one of the world's most prestigious tech events—for five consecutive years is a tremendous opportunity.
What makes it even more special is that this moment follows the successful hosting of M360 MENA right here in Doha last November. That event, which we were proud to host in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the GSMA, brought together policymakers, innovators, and industry leaders to discuss some of the most critical topics in our sector—from AI and FinTech to digital inclusion and 5G deployment. It was a powerful demonstration of Qatar's readiness to lead on the global stage—and it laid the groundwork for what's coming next with MWC.
For Ooredoo, MWC Doha is more than just an event—it's a global platform to show the world what Qatar is capable of. It opens the door to exciting new collaborations in emerging technologies, and gives us the chance to highlight the innovations, talent, and partnerships that are shaping our digital future.
It's also a major economic driver. The influx of visitors, the media spotlight, the global partnerships—it all contributes to a more robust, knowledge-based economy. It signals to the world that Qatar is not only ready for the future—it is shaping it.
8- Looking ahead, what's next for Ooredoo?
The next chapter is about going beyond connectivity. As part of our commitment to national progress and digital transformation, we are advancing the rollout of 5G Advanced, network slicing, and automation, while upgrading our fixed fibre infrastructure to deliver even greater speeds and capacity.
These efforts lay the groundwork for impactful innovation across multiple sectors—including healthcare, education, finance, transportation, and agriculture—enabling smarter systems, more efficient services, and enhanced user experiences.
We will continue to advance AI innovation across our entire ecosystem—enhancing intelligent network management, transforming customer care, and enabling new B2B and B2C applications that unlock real value for businesses and consumers alike.
Our ambition extends beyond just operational improvements to delivering AI-powered solutions that help customers connect, collaborate, and thrive in an increasingly digital world.
We are also highly focused on sustainability: our new network infrastructure is built for maximum energy efficiency, and we are incorporating AI-powered automation to reduce waste and emissions even further.
In short, our vision is to lead digital innovation not only in Qatar but across the region—and to do so responsibly, inclusively, and sustainably. Be it through cutting-edge technology, empowering partnerships, or community support, Ooredoo remains dedicated to upgrading lives and building a brighter future for all.
---
Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content.
Instagram - @qatarliving
X - @qatarliving
Facebook - Qatar Living
YouTube - qatarlivingofficial