The United Arab Emirates has become the first country in the Middle East to successfully pilot 6G Terahertz (THz) technology, achieving a record 145 Gbps throughput speed in collaboration with New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). The breakthrough positions the UAE at the forefront of global 6G innovation and underscores its ambition to lead the next wave of telecommunications advancement.
The test explored THz frequency bands, considered a cornerstone for future 6G networks, which are expected to launch commercially by 2030. These ultra-high-frequency bands will enable unprecedented data speeds, ultra-low latency, and support for AI, extended reality (XR), holographic telepresence, and virtual reality (VR) applications.
Marwan Bin Shaker, Acting Chief Technology and Information Officer at e& UAE, described the achievement as “a breakthrough moment for the industry and for the UAE.” He added:
“This milestone demonstrates our ability to pioneer at the edge of technology, exploring the transformative potential of 6G to reimagine how people, businesses, and cities connect. Our collaboration with NYU Abu Dhabi highlights the critical role of academia–industry partnerships in shaping the future of connectivity.”
Sehamuddin Galadari, Managing Director of the Research Institute at NYUAD, emphasized the regional significance of the pilot:
“This collaboration shows how academic excellence and real-world operator expertise can unlock new frontiers in wireless technology. The UAE is positioning itself as a co-creator of the 6G era.”
Prof. Murat Uysal, Founding Director of the NYUAD Wireless Center, explained that the pilot provided critical validation of THz band viability for 6G, which demands new system architectures to overcome propagation and hardware challenges.
The trial stems from an MoU between e& UAE and NYU Abu Dhabi aimed at advancing 6G research, developing testbeds, and contributing to global 6G standardization.
This milestone follows international progress by Japanese firms DOCOMO, NTT, NEC, and Fujitsu, which recently achieved 100 Gbps in similar 6G trials — placing the UAE ahead in regional innovation leadership.
