• For the first time in its history, du wins Gold Media Award at Festival of Media Global Awards for its ‘Unstoppable’ campaign 
  • du is named in the Fast Company Middle East ‘Brands That Matter 2026’ list of leading entities in both Service and Enterprise categories 

Dubai, UAE, 14 July 2026: du, the leading telecom and digital services provider, has received two prestigious global recognitions that reflect its continued momentum across both brand impact and business transformation. Together, they underscore du’s ambition to build a stronger, more relevant brand while supporting the UAE’s digital future through innovation, technology and meaningful impact, as it continues to evolve from a connectivity provider into a leading digital services and technology company.

In a historic first, du won the Gold Media Award for Best Use of Online at the Festival of Media Global Awards for its ‘Unstoppable Network’ campaign, which also holds the Guinness World Records for the ‘longest promotional advertisement livestream’.  The campaign, which ran a duration of 30 hours, 31 minutes and 43 seconds, held in April 2025, served as an immersive digital tour of the UAE’s untapped beauty through a digital exploration led by a curated group of content creators. It showcased one-of-a-kind adventures and personal favorite destinations through the lens of du’s top tier 5G connectivity, speed, and coverage. The award recognizes the strength and impact of du’s campaign and marks an important milestone for du’s brand and campaign work.

du was also recognized in Fast Company Middle East’s Brands That Matter 2026 list, which celebrates the brands that have earned a meaningful place in people’s lives and continue to shape culture, conversations, and communities across the region. Featuring 32 entities across 19 categories, du is the only winner in the Telecom section, and one of only two named in the Enterprise sector. 

In the Telecom category, du was honored for ‘Moving Well Beyond the Network It Was Built On.’ In its citation, Fast Company Middle East observed: “du has moved from being just a connectivity provider to becoming a full digital services operator. Its 5G network now handles more than 70% of mobile traffic and covers 99% of the population.” The citation for being named the Enterprise brand is for du’s role in ‘accelerating the UAE’s digital future and for changing its role in the market, moving from a traditional telecom provider to a digital services and technology company. By investing in 5G, artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, fintech, and enterprise solutions, du helps individuals, businesses, and public organizations adapt to a digital economy.”

Karim Benkirane, Chief Commercial Officer at du, said: “We are honored to win two of the prestigious awards that reflect our ambition to build a stronger, more relevant brand while continuing to support the UAE’s digital future through innovation, technology and meaningful impact. The Gold Media Award at the Festival of Media Global Awards highlights the power of strategic media and marketing in bringing our brand promise to life and showcasing the strength of our truly unstoppable network. The Fast Company Middle East Brands That Matter recognitions, both in Telecom and Enterprise sector demonstrate the leading role we play in accelerating digital transformation and contributing to the nation’s ambitions. These recognitions will continue to power our journey as we focus on innovative and cutting-edge digital solutions to create value for all our stakeholders.”