News

Telecom Provider du Launches 5G+ Network At Sharjah Airport

Sharjah becomes the United Arab Emirate’s first airport with full 5G+ coverage, advancing the country’s smart infrastructure push.

Published

11 months ago

October 19, 2025

Nour Nasir

telecom provider du launches 5g+ network at sharjah airport

Sharjah International Airport has switched on a next-generation 5G+ network in partnership with telecom provider du, becoming the first airport in the UAE to run the technology across its facilities. The announcement was made at GITEX Global 2025, signaling a step forward in the emirate’s plan to modernize aviation operations and strengthen national connectivity standards.

The network delivers high-speed, low-latency coverage through every terminal, enabling real-time data, cloud-based operations, and digital passenger services such as automated check-ins and interactive wayfinding. Designed for dense environments, the system offers stable performance even in areas that typically face signal drop-offs. It also lays the groundwork for upcoming applications like IoT-enabled logistics, predictive maintenance tools, and immersive travel experiences.

H.E. Ali Salem Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, said the collaboration “represents an important step toward consolidating the airport’s position as a state-of-the-art hub for adopting the latest technologies,” in line with Sharjah’s wider digital transformation agenda.

Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO of du, added: “The achievement at Sharjah International Airport exemplifies our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in telecommunications technology. We aim to enable a transformed travel experience while setting new global standards for airport network performance by deploying the UAE’s most advanced 5G+ indoor system. Our partnership with Sharjah Airport Authority highlights how strategic collaboration can drive innovation that benefits our customers, supports national digital transformation goals, and positions the UAE at the forefront of smart infrastructure development”.

Also Read: UAE Deploys First Fleet Of Driverless Electric Cargo Trucks

Du built the energy-efficient system using advanced network design and optimization tools, ensuring uniform connectivity while reducing power use. It supports ultra-low latency links essential for next-wave services such as augmented and virtual reality, and integrates with the airport’s smart management platforms.

The rollout supports the UAE’s national vision for smart cities and sustainable digital infrastructure. It positions Sharjah alongside other regional innovation hubs investing in connected transport, setting a benchmark for how telecom infrastructure can drive operational efficiency and enhance passenger experience.

News

Visa’s Return To Syria Starts With A Test And A Bank In Lebanon

Foreign visitors will be the first users to benefit, but whether Syria’s own banks and cardholders follow is still an open question.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

Dana Saadeh

visa's return to syria starts with a test and a bank in lebanon

Visa is returning to Syria. Its first live international card transaction in the country was a test rather than a launch, and the milestone event ran through a Lebanese bank.

The acquirer (the bank on the merchant’s side of a card payment) was Fransabank Lebanon, with Paymera as the other named partner. Nadim Moujaes, who heads a Fransabank Group subsidiary, describes the test as both the culmination of “longstanding efforts to link Syria back to international payment networks” and “the first step in a larger path”.

Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa makes the first electronic payment in Syria using a @Visa card at a store in Damascus, following the lifting of US sanctions on Syria. pic.twitter.com/lpAN7nQ6Fc

— Tech Magazine (@TechMGZN) August 27, 2026

“We are excited to have successfully tested live transactions today as we plan to enable international visitors to use their Visa cards while in Syria,” says Leila Serhan, Visa’s senior vice president and group country manager for the North Africa, Levant and Pakistan region. Although a significant first step, that plan doesn’t come with a hard date for when a visitor’s card will work normally.

Mohammed Safwat Raslan, governor of the Central Bank of Syria, says the test paves the way for international card acceptance in Syria and that maintaining strong compliance, risk management and operational controls will remain essential. Serhan likewise stresses that Visa has worked within applicable legal, regulatory and compliance requirements. For a test transaction, it seems there was a great deal of attention paid to the rules, with the entire operation being carefully managed.

Also Read: Lebanon’s 5G Era Begins With 150 Stations And A $1M Budget

The test is the latest step in a sequence that began in December 2025, when Visa announced a strategic roadmap to support Syria’s integration into the global digital economy. In February 2026 it hosted its first industry gathering of banks, ecosystem partners and policymakers in Damascus and, the same month, signed an agreement with Syria’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in San Francisco.

Michel Kattouah, Paymera’s CEO, called the test “the return of international card acceptance,” but while that’s positive news, there’s no word yet on when a Syrian bank will issue a Visa card to a Syrian customer.