Etisalat group net profit after royalty for 2019 increased by 1% to AED 8,7 billion compared to AED 8,6 billion a year ago despite difficult market conditions. Revenue for the Abu Dhabi-listed group of telecom operators fell 0,38% to AED 52.2 billion this year from AED 52.4 billion a year ago due to currency fluctuations and declining revenue. mobiles of UAE operations. The prepaid mobile phone market has been under pressure for several quarters due to low consumer confidence and telecom operators have focused on the postpaid mobile phone market to increase average revenue per user and avoid their revenue and profit. to decline According to research firm International Data Corporation, telecommunications services are feeling the pinch of low consumer confidence and a slowdown in mobile data services. Even in 2020, spending in the telecom sector is expected to grow more slowly at 1.01%. Sukhdev Singh, chief executive of research and consulting services provider Kantar, told TechRadar Middle East that most UAE companies have faced headwinds in the last two to three years, affecting ; global economy in many ways, including the use of telecommunications services. However, he said that Etisalat managed to maintain overall results despite the drop in revenue. "As we get closer to Expo 2020, which starts in the fourth quarter of 2020, economic activities are expected to resume and help telecom operators outperform other sectors," he said. The total number of Etisalat subscribers reached 149 million, an increase of 6% year-on-year. The company proposed a dividend of 40 strands per share for the second half of 2019, representing a total dividend of 80 strands for the full year and a payout ratio of 80%.