6G MENA Summit 2026: The Region Sets Its Course for 6G

On 19 and 20 October, regulators, operators, vendors and researchers gathered in Abu Dhabi for the 2026 6G MENA Summit. The Summit was organised by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA UAE) in collaboration with Khalifa University and Forum Global under the theme ‘In the AI Era’.

Almost 300 people joined the Summit in person and 1,000 more followed online to hear from 41 speakers and moderators. They included national regulators, international and regional bodies such as the ITU, ETSI, SGMA, and the Arab Spectrum Management Group (ASMG), the Arab ICT Organization (AITCO) and the SAMENA Telecommunications Council, and leading voices from industry and academia. Alongside the sessions, the Innovation & Demonstrations Showcase featured 11 research posters and live technology demonstrations.

Conversations on the exhibition floor at 6G MENA.

Day 1 opened with keynotes from H.E. Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of TDRA, and H.E. Eng. Mohammed Al Ramsi, Deputy Director General of TDRA. Between them, they set out the UAE’s national strategy for next-generation connectivity and its vision for 6G powered by AI. Fireside chats followed on the region’s journey from 5G to 6G and the Operator Business Case. In the afternoon, panels examined regional readiness, the AI-native foundations of 6G and the spectrum pathway to WRC-27.

H.E. Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar (Director General, TDRA UAE) delivers an opening keynote address

Day 2 began with a leadership perspective from Ericsson’s Iwan Stella. Panels then turned to integrating space and terrestrial networks and the region’s role in global standards. The Summit closed with a Regulators' Roundtable on inclusion, sustainability and the socioeconomic promise of 6G.

Regulators' Roundtable featuring Saif Bin Ghelaita in conversation with Rahma Gharsallaoui, Eric Fournier and Tariq Al Awadhi

One message ran through every session: the region is strongest when it acts together. Speakers called for common positions ahead of WRC-27, joined-up approaches to satellite integration and a united voice in global standards. They also shared a conviction that 6G will be judged not by peak speeds but by its impact on people’s lives.

Day 1 Fireside Chat between Tariq Al Awadhi (TDRA UAE), Hareth Saleh Al Alshehhi (Etisalat) and Dr. Mohamed A. El-Moghazi (GTPRN) & Day 2 Fireside Chat between Iwan Stella (Ericcson) and Prof. Merouane Debbah (Khalifa University)

All sessions are now available on YouTube here for Day 1 and here for Day 2, and event photos can be found on the event website.