Move to align policy, technology and investment through stakeholder participation
Under the patronage of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) and in legacy collaboration with Huawei, the SAMENA Telecommunications Council confirmed that its Leaders’ Summit 2026 will take place as scheduled on April 1st at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai.
This confirmation follows a review of the Summit’s timing with UAE-based stakeholders and the broader SAMENA Council community, and maintaining the original date also reiterates an operational requirement for the market.
Digital infrastructure continues to function as a critical layer across economies, requiring uninterrupted coordination among policymakers, operators, and technology stakeholders. In practice, convening leadership at this juncture supports clarity in direction, continuity in execution, and confidence across the market.
Forward-looking priorities
Under the umbrella theme, titled ‘Intelligent Networks for Sovereign & Sustainable Futures’, the 2026 agenda of the Leaders’ Summit will focus on forward-looking priorities with direct implications for operators, regulators, and investors.
Additional focus areas include emerging hybrid connectivity paradigms that integrate terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, alongside the evolving role of space infrastructure. Parallel discussions will address space sustainability and orbital governance, driven by increased satellite deployment and the need for coordinated frameworks.
Investment flows
Leadership sessions will explore shifts in the technology and international business landscape, including investment flows, supply chain considerations, and cross-border collaboration models.
Held in the UAE, the Summit benefits from a market environment characterized by strong institutional coordination between regulators, operators, and technology partners. This coordination demonstrates sustained policy direction and disciplined execution.
“Maintaining leadership dialogue is essential to ensuring that the region’s digital infrastructure continues to function and evolve in a stable and forward-looking manner,” emphasized Bocar BA, CEO, the SAMENA Council. “The Leaders’ Summit aims to enable alignment across sectors on priorities that are both immediate and long-term in their impact,” he added.
