Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Digital Transformation & Innovation
• Accountable Business Practices
• Empowering People
• Environmental Management
• Connecting Communities

Environmental Achievements

• Re-certified for ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management for five high-rise buildings and one data centre.
• Three data centres constructed in compliance with ESTIDAMA and LEED minimum certification requirements.
• Replaced diesel generators across several GSM sites with renewable energy sources from solar power.
• Scope 2 emissions dropped by 36% compared to the previous year.
• Cumulatively 4,187,508 Kilowatt-Hours of electricity was saved while displacing 2,470 tonnes of CO2 and saving 530 trees.

Social Achievements

• Launched the first-ever virtual ‘Digital Summer Camp’ for children of employees.
• Talking Bill service deployed to support the elderly and people with visual disabilities.
• Highest ever female employment rate (24%), an 8.1% increase year-on-year.
• 50 percent increase in women in Vice President roles and above.
• 63 percent decrease in female turnover.

Governance Achievements

• Established a Risk Committee dedicated to risk management activities.
• Enhanced governance through the constitution of a Group Enterprise Risk Management Committee (ERMC).
• Reduced the number of incidents of non-compliance with telecommunications laws and regulations from 36 in 2020 to 10 in 2021 (72 percent reduction).
• Obtained ISO 37001:2016 certification for internal anti-bribery management systems (in progress).

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Reducing GHG emissions in an energy-intensive sector.
• Managing risks associated with cyber security and data privacy.
• Maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction.
• Addressing public concerns regarding electromagnetic energy emissions from mobile devices and base stations.

Mitigation Strategies

• Implementing energy optimization programs (ZIBRA), using renewable energy sources, and improving energy efficiency in data centers.
• Implementing robust internal policies and procedures to prevent corruption and bribery, and conducting regular security audits and penetration testing.
• Implementing a ‘Customer Feedback Management System’ and investing in AI-powered tools to personalize customer experiences.
• Complying with TDRA guidelines on Non-Ionising Radiation Limits for Telecommunication Networks, which are in line with ICNIRP guidelines.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Standard Instructions of Condition for e& Tenders (SICETs)
• Compliance with UAE laws and regulations, and e&’s Code of Conduct

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards: Core option, UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Disclosure Guidelines

Certifications: ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, ISO 9001:2015, TL 9000, ISO 27001:2013, PCI DSS, ISO 20000-1:2011, Tier III for Gold Operational Sustainability Certification (Data Centres), Tier IV Full World Teleport Association (WTA) certification (e& Tawi-Al-Saman (TAS) Earth Station)

Third-party Assurance: Not assured

Awards & Recognition

• Ookla Q World’s Fastest Mobile Network Operator (UAE)
• Best Regional Data Centre Operator
• Best Middle Eastern Wholesale Carrier
• Most Innovative Digital Transformation Company – Telecom – UAE
• Most Customer Centric Telecom Company – UAE
• Innovation in Employee Engagement and HR Team of the Year Award
• Best Innovative L&D Initiative
• Best Talent Management Strategy
• Best Crisis Communication Strategy
• Best Learning Culture
• Best Loyalty and Rewards Programme
• Best Middle Eastern Wholesale Operator
• Best Middle Eastern Operator
• Best 5G Infrastructure Deployment
• Microsoft Country Partner of the Year Award for the UAE
• Customer Excellence – Retail Category (UAE)
• Best Discount Programmes (Smiles App)

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Change
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Community Investment
• Environmental Conservation
• Net Zero Emissions

Environmental Achievements

• Pledged commitment to achieving net zero within the Group’s own operations in the UAE for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030.
• Initiatives to reduce carbon footprint through improving energy efficiency, sourcing renewable energy and reducing networks waste.
• Deployment of onsite renewable energy based on solar panels and adopting low emission alternatives, such as hybrid batteries in off-grid sites.
• Significant reduction in diesel fuel consumption through initial deployment of hybrid solutions based on high capacitor batteries in off-grid sites in etisalat by e& Egypt and Etisalat Afghanistan.
• etisalat by e& Egypt signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with SolarizEgypt to build a power plant in Gouna to supply clean renewable energy.

Social Achievements

• Supported the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiative’s ‘One Billion Meals’ campaign.
• Partnered with relevant authorities in the UAE to provide financial aid to meet the needs of families displaced by Pakistan’s torrential rains and flash floods.
• Launched a fundraising campaign internally in collaboration with Emirates Red Crescent.
• etisalat by e& Egypt worked to better people’s health through its multi-faceted medical caravans.
• PTCL Group announced a PKR 1.75 billion grant to aid in the relief and rehabilitation activities in Pakistan following natural calamities.
• Ufone offered free phone calls in the flood-affected areas of Pakistan.
• Etisalat Afghanistan provided cash donations to families affected by earthquake and floods.

Governance Achievements

• Senior management formed a Sustainability Steering Committee.
• Developed a Group sustainability strategy framework for the next five years.
• Refreshed Code of Conduct to raise awareness of ethical business conduct.
• Organised targeted compliance training events and workshops for a range of stakeholders.
• Launched a Group-wide whistleblowing process.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Challenging global market conditions, including increased inflationary pressure, monetary easing, and decreased sentiment towards equities.
• Unfavourable rates of exchange with the Egyptian Pound, Pakistani Rupee and Moroccan Dirham.
• Ongoing regulatory and competitive pressure in Morocco.
• Tough macroeconomic and competitive challenges in some Moov Africa markets.
• Adverse macroeconomic situation in Pakistan.
• Challenging social and political conditions in Afghanistan, combined with volatile economic conditions and fluctuating currency movements.
• Intensified competition across all lines of business.
• Macroeconomic risk (currency depreciation, inflation).
• Geo-political risk impacting organic and inorganic growth.
• Regulatory risk impacting growth and profitability.
• Shortage of digital talents in the market such as AI, Big Data, IoT, Blockchain and Cloud computing.

Mitigation Strategies

• Implemented a new operating model and invested to scale businesses.
• Focus on cost optimisation initiatives.
• Disciplined approach and resilience delivered significant top-line growth.
• Pursuing attractive, value-accretive M&A prospects.
• Focus on growing local currency revenues.
• Maintaining momentum in cash flow generation and profitability.
• Leveraging local expertise and knowledge to combat geopolitical threats.
• Established policies, procedures and tools to monitor, manage and report foreign exchange exposures.
• Strengthened cyber risk management programme.
• Launched a task force to perform a gap assessment to the new UAE Data Protection Law.
• Approved a new Third-Party Risk Management Policy.

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Awards & Recognition

• Most valuable portfolio of telecommunication brands in the MEA region by Brand Finance
• Strongest telecom brand in MEA
• Most valuable Emarati brand
• Forbes’s “World’s Best Employers” list
• CSR and Sustainability Award by Amwal El Ghad
• Kheir Award for the ‘Most Sustainable Projects of the Year’
• ‘Most Impactful Project of the Year’ for its Momken Project