Ooredoo Launches Al Abraj to Manage Tower Infrastructure in Qatar

Ooredoo announced the spin-off of Al Abraj on Thursday, launching the new standalone company to independently operate and manage Ooredoo Qatar's passive tower infrastructure assets within the country. This significant launch follows the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals in Qatar, including clearance from the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA). The establishment of Al Abraj marks the first operational carve-out under Ooredoo’s broader TowerCo initiative, a strategic move designed to optimize the group's portfolio. Ooredoo stated that "Khalid will lead Al Abraj through its next phase of development, focusing on operational excellence, value creation and supporting the long-term growth of Ooredoo’s tower infrastructure platform." This development shows Ooredoo’s commitment to enhancing efficiency and maximizing the value of its infrastructure assets, positioning Al Abraj as a key player in Qatar's telecommunications landscape. The independent operation of passive tower infrastructure is anticipated to drive innovation and service improvements across the sector.

New Leadership Appointed

Ooredoo has announced the appointment of Khalid Barzak as General Director of Al Abraj. Mr. Barzak brings more than two decades of extensive leadership experience, with 16 years specifically within the dynamic telecommunications sector. His deep understanding of the industry and proven track record make him a key choice for this new role. During his tenure at Ooredoo Group, he held a number of senior leadership positions spanning various critical areas, including telecommunications, digital services, investments, and partnerships. This diverse experience has equipped him with a full perspective on the evolving telecommunications market.

Mr. Barzak was instrumental in driving the growth and turnaround of Ooredoo’s digital services and partnerships businesses. Under his guidance, these segments have transformed into a meaningful contributor to the Group's profitability, demonstrating his strategic vision and execution capabilities. In his new role as General Director, Khalid Barzak will guide Al Abraj through its next phase of development. Ooredoo emphasized that "Khalid will lead Al Abraj through its next phase of development, focusing on operational excellence, value creation and supporting the long-term growth of Ooredoo’s tower infrastructure platform." His leadership is expected to be key in establishing Al Abraj as a leading independent tower company, fostering operational efficiencies and exploring new avenues for growth and collaboration within the market.

Broader Strategic Context

The launch of Al Abraj is not an isolated event but rather a continuation of Ooredoo's full strategy to optimize its portfolio and unlock value from its infrastructure assets. Ooredoo previously spun off its regional data centre operations last year, creating Syntys. This entity currently operates active data centres across five key markets: Qatar, Tunisia, Kuwait, Oman, and Iraq. The success of Syntys in these markets has provided a blueprint for Ooredoo's current infrastructure initiatives.

In a similar strategic move earlier this year, Ooredoo announced plans to spin off its international connectivity and subsea cable infrastructure business. This initiative aims to establish a new independent company, which will be known as Ooredoo Fibre Networks (OFN). The completion of the Ooredoo Fibre Networks (OFN) spinoff is anticipated by 2027, further demonstrating the group's long-term vision for specialized, independently managed infrastructure entities. This series of divestments shows Ooredoo's ongoing strategy to optimize its portfolio and create standalone entities focused on specific infrastructure assets, allowing each specialized company to pursue its own growth trajectory and operational efficiencies while attracting dedicated investment. These strategic carve-outs are designed to enhance transparency, improve operational focus, and unlock greater shareholder value across the Ooredoo Group.

Regulatory Acknowledgement

Ooredoo extended its sincere thanks to various regulatory authorities in Qatar for their support throughout the approval process of Al Abraj. The telecommunications provider has launched Al Abraj as a new standalone company responsible for independently operating and managing Ooredoo Qatar's passive tower infrastructure assets within the country. This move follows the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, including key clearance from the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), which played a vital role in facilitating this strategic transition. The establishment of Al Abraj marks the first operational carve-out under Ooredoo’s broader TowerCo initiative, aligning with the group's overarching portfolio optimization strategy.

Khalid Barzak has been appointed as General Director of Al Abraj, bringing more than two decades of leadership experience to the role, with a significant portion dedicated to the telecommunications sector. Ooredoo reiterated that "Khalid will lead Al Abraj through its next phase of development, focusing on operational excellence, value creation and supporting the long-term growth of Ooredoo’s tower infrastructure platform." This development continues Ooredoo's strategy of creating specialized entities, following the successful spin-off of its regional data centre operations into Syntys and the ongoing plans for Ooredoo Fibre Networks (OFN). The cooperation from regulatory bodies was essential in ensuring a smooth and compliant establishment of Al Abraj, paving the way for its future operations and contributions to Qatar's digital infrastructure.