Ooredoo appoints Khalid Hassan Al-Hamadi as CEO of newly formed Ooredoo Fibre Networks

Ooredoo Group has appointed Khalid Hassan Al-Hamadi as Chief Executive Officer of its newly established unit, Ooredoo Fibre Networks (OFN), effective 15 February 2026. 

The new independent entity, OFN, is focused on managing and scaling the company’s international connectivity and submarine cable ambitions. The carve-out process is expected to be completed by 2027.

OFN will act as the Group’s specialised investment vehicle for submarine cables and high-capacity terrestrial transport fibre—an area the company views as a significant long-term digital infrastructure opportunity.

The entity will consolidate Ooredoo’s growing portfolio of international connectivity assets and projects under a dedicated platform, strengthening its ability to capture rising demand for resilient, high-performance data routes driven by hyperscalers, cloud providers, and AI platforms.

The new CEO Al-Hamadi brings extensive operational and strategic leadership experience across Ooredoo’s footprint. Most recently, he served as Managing Director and CEO of Ooredoo Maldives since February 2022, following a long tenure within Ooredoo Qatar, where he held senior roles across consumer sales and strategic planning.

During his leadership in the Maldives, the company accelerated its digital transformation agenda, expanding 5G coverage to roughly 80% of the population, extending broadband to additional islands, and deploying a new submarine cable to strengthen international connectivity. The operator also recorded its highest-ever total revenue and net profit during his tenure.

Al-Hamadi additionally brings more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, including leadership roles at Qatargas and General Electric, with recognised expertise in operational excellence, transformation delivery, and execution of large-scale, capital-intensive infrastructure projects.

Commenting on the development, Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, Group CEO of Ooredoo, said international connectivity and subsea infrastructure have become among the world’s most strategic digital assets, with demand accelerating alongside AI, cloud, and hyperscale growth. “With the formation of OFN, and with Khalid Hassan Al-Hamadi at the helm, we are creating a focused platform to scale our investments in fibre and submarine cables, deliver attractive long-term returns, and cement Ooredoo’s position as a key data gateway between Asia, the Gulf, and Europe,” he said.

The move aligns with Ooredoo’s evolved RISE strategy, which combines three investment horizons aimed at delivering superior shareholder returns while accelerating the Group’s transition into a leading digital infrastructure player.

Fakhroo added that the company aims to grow its international infrastructure and subsea cable business contribution from 3% to 12% of Group revenues over time, reflecting the scale of opportunity in global data and AI traffic flows. Ooredoo is currently building one of the GCC’s largest subsea cable and transport fibre networks, positioning itself as a strategic digital gateway between Europe and Asia.