#UAE telecom giants Etisalat, Du increase foreign ownership limit to 49% | ZAWYA MENA Edition

UAE telecom giants Etisalat, Du increase foreign ownership limit to 49% | ZAWYA MENA Edition

UAE's telecom giants Etisalat and Du have raised foreign ownership caps to 49 percent in a move to attract external investors.

"Etisalat Group’s Board of Directors discussed increasing the ownership limit of the Non-UAE Nationals in the Company and resolved to increase such limit from 20% to 49% of its capital," the company notified the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares are traded.

The decision is subject to approval from the company’s general assembly and regulatory authorities.

Etisalat shares jumped roughly 15 percent on Wednesday - its best day in nearly six years - as the company called a board meeting to discuss increasing the foreign ownership limit in the firm.

In a statement to the Dubai Financial Market, Du said that "non-UAE nationals (whether individual or legal entities) are entitled to own shares up to 49 percent of the company's capital".