Qatar and UAE top Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® data study with 370 Mbps+ 5G roaming speeds - Middle East Business News and Information
UAE,, February 2025: A study based on Speedtest Intelligence® data by Ookla®, a global leader in connectivity intelligence, has revealed that Gulf nations offer some of the best 5G roaming speeds globally, facilitating an enhanced digital experience for visitors. The study assessed the mobile user experience of inbound roamers visiting Gulf countries, including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, in 2024 and compared it with their home network experiences.
Karim Yaici, Lead Industry Analyst for the Middle East and Africa at Ookla, said: 'Mobile connectivity is a critical factor shaping one's travel experience by enabling visitors to stay connected with their family and friends, use essential navigation features, locate tourist attractions, access restaurant reviews, and share their experiences on social media. By leveraging 5G technology's capabilities when roaming, users can access high-speed internet, stream HD videos, and perform lag-free video calls.'
Yaici further stated: 'At Ookla, we are committed to analysing, understanding, and improving connected experiences, in line with our vision to create a world with better connectivity. We also uphold the principles of neutrality and independence in all our analyses.'
The research revealed that many travellers visiting Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait enjoyed top speeds on 5G networks, with median download speeds over 5G reaching 381.05 Mbps in Qatar, 374.60 Mbps in the UAE, and 240.37 Mbps in Kuwait. It also revealed that visitors to the Middle East from Austria, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong were most likely to use 5G while roaming. On the other hand, travellers from Pakistan, India, and Egypt were identified as being least likely to use 5G while roaming.
In the UAE, over 37 percent of roaming users anonymously identified by Speedtest were visitors from India, Saudi Arabia, Austria, Russia, and Hong Kong. However, their network experiences varied significantly, with Saudi Arabian and Russian travellers experiencing the fastest download speeds across all technologies and over 5G. Russian tourists experienced more than a threefold increase in median download speeds compared to their home networks. On the other hand, travellers from Austria, India, and Hong Kong experienced comparatively lower performances in the UAE. Saudi visitors to Kuwait experienced a high 5G roaming speed of 240.37 Mbps, but their 'all technologies' speeds were around 40 percent lower than 5G.
As the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) rapidly evolves into a global tourism and business hub, the demand for seamless high-speed connectivity is also increasing. This is further bolstered by the fact that the Travel & Tourism market in GCC is poised to sustain its ongoing expansion in coming years, generating USD 9.57 billion in revenue in 2029, growing from an estimated USD 8.32 billion in 2025 at an annual growth rate of 3.56 percent.
This growth will be driven by the region's ongoing infrastructure investment, world-class amenities, and the availability of simplified visa policies streamlining the tourist entry process. Such a strategic focus on tourism empowers regional mobile operators to leverage 5G roaming as a key revenue driver. In this context, Ookla's analysis empowers mobile service providers and other businesses to optimise their networks and enhance the lives of individuals who rely on these networks daily.
ABOUT OOKLA®
Ookla® is a global leader in connectivity intelligence that provides consumers, businesses, and other organizations with data-driven insights to improve networks and connected experiences. We help our clients efficiently solve their biggest connectivity challenges and drive forward innovation.
Ookla is a division of Ziff Davis (NASDAQ: ZD), a vertically focused digital media and internet company whose portfolio includes leading brands in technology, entertainment, shopping, health, cybersecurity, and martech. Ookla's world-renowned brands include Speedtest®, Downdetector®, Ekahau®, RootMetrics®, and more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
11 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
1st Direct Flight from Moscow to Pyongyang Lands
Rana Atef The first direct flight from the Russian capital, Moscow, to North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, landed on Monday morning. According to Russia's Interfax news agency, the aircraft departed from Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow on Sunday evening, with the flight lasting approximately eight hours. The return flight from Pyongyang to Moscow is scheduled to depart on Tuesday morning. This development follows the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency's recent approval, granted earlier in July, for the Russian airline Nordwind to operate flights to North Korea. Tickets went on sale on July 18, with prices starting at 44,700 rubles (around 500 euros). According to the announced schedule, the airline will operate one flight per month on this new route. Russian Minister of Natural Resources Alexander Kozlov described the move as a 'historic event,' emphasizing the importance of establishing a regular air link between Moscow and Pyongyang. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence"
Egypt Independent
13 hours ago
- Egypt Independent
Trump says he is giving Putin less time for ceasefire deadline
President Donald Trump said Monday that he is disappointed in Russian President Vladimir Putin and that he was reducing the 50-day deadline he gave Russia over its war in Ukraine. 'I'm disappointed in President Putin, very disappointed in him,' Trump told reporters, alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ahead of their meeting in Scotland. 'I'm going to reduce that 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number.' Trump said he has spoken with Putin a lot, adding: 'We've had discussions.' The US president announced two weeks ago he had given Putin 50 days to reach a deal with Ukraine before facing any consequences. 'We're going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don't have a deal in 50 days,' Trump had said. 'Tariffs at about 100%, you'd call them secondary tariffs. You know what that means.'
Mid East Info
15 hours ago
- Mid East Info
Cloudera and Aramco Plan to Collaborate on AI-driven Digital Innovation in Saudi Arabia - Middle East Business News and Information
Collaboration aims to enhance data-driven innovation, upskill Saudi talent, and advance AI and data research. Saudi Arabia, July 28th, 2025: Cloudera, a leading hybrid platform for data, analytics, and AI, and Aramco, one of the world's leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, have agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU outlines plans for joint efforts to leverage Cloudera's platform and Aramco's industry expertise to build AI-powered solutions and applications that support the growth of the digital oil and gas sector in Saudi Arabia. Amid the rapid evolution of technology, this proposed collaboration aims to see both parties work together to further localize cutting-edge technologies, create new opportunities, and drive sustainable growth in the country. Upskilling Saudi talent in data and AI The parties plan to develop and upskill Saudi local talent in programs tailored to Saudi Arabia's workforce needs, with a focus on upskilling Saudi talent in data engineering, data science, and analytics. Ahmad Issa, Regional Vice President of the Middle East for Cloudera, said : 'In seeking to collaborate with Aramco, our goal is to empower local professionals with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive in a data-driven economy. By investing in human capital, we're supporting individual careers while contributing to the broader ecosystem of innovation and growth in Saudi Arabia.' This focus on skills development aligns with the joint vision of making modern data and analytics accessible and fostering an empowered workforce ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow. Unlocking business value through data-driven solutions Under the proposed collaboration, Cloudera and Aramco plan to jointly develop and implement data-driven solutions that leverage Cloudera's platform to further enhance Aramco's operational efficiency and competitiveness. By combining their expertise, the two companies aim to work together to unlock new insights and drive business value through advanced data management, security, and analytics capabilities. Issa continued: 'By seeking to collaborate with Aramco, we intend to blend its industry expertise with our innovative data solutions to drive meaningful impact for Saudi Arabia's digital transformation. 'We're excited about the opportunity to contribute to Saudi Arabia's digital economy, working with world-class organizations like Aramco to make smarter, data-driven decisions to stay ahead in today's fast-paced world.' Driving R&D innovation in AI and big data Under the MoU, the parties have agreed to explore collaborative research and development initiatives. Cloudera and Aramco also plan to explore emerging trends and technologies in big data, AI, and data science. By pooling resources and expertise, the parties are aiming to fuel innovation that drives AI-powered solutions and applications that support the growth of the digital oil and gas sector in Saudi Arabia. Cloudera's hybrid data-cloud solutions offer a robust foundation for securely managing data across environments while maintaining unified governance and real-time analytics capabilities. This aligns with Aramco's forward-looking vision in the data and AI field, and the two parties are planning to collaborate and drive innovation in the rapidly evolving global landscape. Issa concluded: 'As we are seeking to collaborate with Aramco, we reaffirm our commitment to helping enterprises accelerate their AI aspirations in a secure and responsible way. Together, we plan to unlock the true potential of data and support Saudi Arabia's digital economy.' Read the full press release here.
