Home lists Top 100 most powerful Arabs 2021 Hatem Dowidar CEO, Etisalat group Origin: Egypt Residence: UAE Sector: Telecoms Despite economic headwinds, UAE telecom operator Etisalat Group posted Dhs9bn in net profit for 2020, while its subscriber base across the group reached 154 million. In January, the operator also increased its cap on foreign ownership from 20 per cent to 49 per cent. Leading the company as it digitally transforms operations is recently appointed CEO Hatem Dowidar, who brings three decades of multinational corporate experience to the table including more than 24 years in the telecoms industry. Dowidar also sits on the boards of Etisalat’s subsidiaries in Morocco, Egypt and Pakistan.