Abu Dhabi / Dubai, 11 November 2025 – The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) of the United Arab Emirates today officially launched its national 6G Initiative, marking a major milestone in the country’s drive to become a global leader in next-generation connectivity. The announcement comes shortly after the country achieved record-breaking results in a 6G terahertz-band pilot — the first of its kind in the Middle East. businessnewse.com+5Khaleej Times+5Emirati Times+5
Table of Contents
ToggleFrom pilot success to a national push
In October, a joint demonstration by e& UAE (formerly Etisalat Group’s UAE operations) and NYU Abu Dhabi delivered a throughput of 145 gigabits-per-second (Gbps) over a terahertz (THz) link — a region-leading achievement. The Times of India+3businessnewse.com+3New York University Abu Dhabi+3
The trial validated ultra-high-capacity, ultra-low-latency links and showcased the potential of THz bands to enable transformative applications such as holographic telepresence, extended reality (XR), terabit-class backhaul and digital twins. New York University Abu Dhabi+2businessnewse.com+2
Leveraging this success, TDRA’s 6G Initiative brings together federal and local government bodies, telecom operators, research institutions and global technology providers to build an integrated ecosystems for next-generation networks. Khaleej Times+2Emirati Times+2
Vision and objectives
According to TDRA, the launch is more than just a speed upgrade. As Eng. Mohammed Al Ramsi, Deputy Director General for the Telecommunications Sector at TDRA, noted: “We are building on a legacy of innovation and achievements, striving together toward an intelligent, hyper-connected society that fosters innovation and national prosperity.” Khaleej Times+1
The Initiative sets out several key goals:
Develop and launch a national 6G ecosystem, supported by research, innovation, testbeds and industry-academia collaboration. Arabian Business News+1
Establish the regulatory and spectrum frameworks required for 6G rollout — including the terahertz (THz) bands and advanced network architectures. Khaleej Times+1
Support emerging use-cases that go beyond traditional mobile connectivity — including AI-native networks, integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), digital twins, XR and the tactile internet. New York University Abu Dhabi+1
Target the commercial adoption of 6G-class services before 2030, aligning with broader national visions and economic diversification goals. tdra.gov.ae+1
Implications for industry and economy
The move reinforces the UAE’s ambition to maintain leadership in the telecommunications space. In 2018, the country was one of the first in the region to deploy 5G commercial services — and the roadmap now aims to transition from enhanced 5G (5.5G) toward full 6G capabilities. tdra.gov.ae
With 6G, industries such as healthcare (remote surgery, diagnostics), smart cities, autonomous transport, and immersive media stand to benefit from ultra-high speeds and ultra-low latency. The THz-based pilot demonstrates the technical feasibility of such advanced services. businessnewse.com+1
From a regulatory and infrastructure standpoint, the position of the UAE in shaping global standards is strengthened. By fostering local talent, setting up testbed environments and collaborating with international bodies, the country aims to influence 6G global frameworks. Emirati Times+1
Challenges ahead
Despite the promising progress, the rollout of commercial 6G faces key challenges:
Terahertz bands, while offering enormous capacity, are subject to unique propagation characteristics and hardware demands. The pilot recognised the need for new system architectures. New York University Abu Dhabi+1
Building ecosystem readiness: from innovations in network equipment to device support, content and service models yet need to catch up.
Regulatory and spectrum management: Ensuring efficient use of THz bands, global harmonisation and regulatory frameworks will be essential. TDRA’s roadmap highlights these as integral to the strategy. tdra.gov.ae+1
Commercial viability: While trials achieve breakthrough speed, turning that into mass-market services that are cost-effective, secure and widely adopted is still a journey.
Looking ahead
With commercial 6G services envisioned before 2030, the UAE is gearing up early. The 6G Initiative lays the foundation for the next era of connectivity — one in which networks are more intelligent, pervasive and integrated into society at large. As the world waits for 6G to become the norm, the UAE is positioning itself as a front-runner.
For the region, this landmark achievement heralds a shift: the Middle East is no longer just a beneficiary of global telecom innovations, but an active contributor and leader. With the 145 Gbps pilot, and now a formal national initiative, the UAE sends a clear message: the future of connectivity will be built here.
