Dubai, UAE — e& UAE, the flagship telecom arm of global technology group e&, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Khalifa University (KU) and Zayed University (ZU) to establish the UAE 6G Innovation Hub and the country’s first National 5G/6G Federated Testbeds. The agreement, formalised during GITEX Global 2025, reinforces the UAE’s commitment to advancing next-generation connectivity and contributing to global 6G standardisation.
The new initiative will serve as a collaborative platform uniting academia, startups, and industry leaders to pioneer research and innovation in areas such as holographic communications, tactile internet, IoT, and integrated sensing and communications (ISAC).
Four Pillars of Collaboration
The MoU outlines cooperation across four key areas:
- Research & Innovation: Building nationwide 5G/6G testbeds, co-authoring research, and participating in international 6G standards bodies.
- Talent Development: Engaging students in applied projects, internships, and hackathons to cultivate next-generation Emirati talent.
- University Advancement: Positioning KU and ZU as founding institutions of a national 6G ecosystem with broader university participation.
- Executive Education: Launching upskilling programmes for industry professionals to strengthen the UAE’s digital innovation workforce.
Driving the UAE’s Leadership in Future Connectivity
Marwan Bin Shaker, Acting CTIO at e& UAE, said:
“As the world’s fastest broadband nation, the UAE is uniquely positioned to lead in the 6G era. This partnership marks a historic step towards global co-creation, ensuring UAE-based research converts into deployable solutions and contributions that shape future standards.”
Prof. Bayan Sharif, Provost of Khalifa University, added:
“Through this collaboration, we aim to leverage our research excellence to build advanced testbeds and provide our students hands-on exposure to next-generation technologies.”
Prof. Michael Allen, Acting Vice President of Zayed University, noted:
“By engaging students directly in pioneering 6G research, we are preparing future leaders who will drive innovation and position the UAE as a global hub for talent and technology.”
The UAE 6G Innovation Hub will operate as a federated ecosystem, giving researchers and developers shared access to secure, sandboxed test environments, shared datasets, and common methods — enabling faster, more efficient translation of ideas into commercial and international standards.
