VODAFONE & The UAE: Evaluating the National Security Implications of the UAE's Stake in Vodafone
13 May 2024
A report published by Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland KC MP and co-authored with IHR Advisors Rhys Davies and Ben Keith, examines the national security implications of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s stake in Vodafone.
The acquisition of a significant stake in Vodafone by the Abu Dhabi-based telecom giant Emirates Telecommunications, also known as e&, has raised substantial national security as well as human rights concerns within the UK. This report considers the issues and implications surrounding the 14.6% ownership that e& holds in Vodafone and sets out concerns regarding the espionage and national security risks. It also considers the broader human rights considerations associated with the UAE's stake in one of the world's leading telecommunications providers, playing a pivotal role in the UK's connectivity and digital infrastructure. The investment by e&, which resulted in the UAE based company becoming the largest shareholder in Vodafone, has not only strategic implications for the telecom sector but also raises significant concerns regarding privacy, data protection, and freedom of expression.
In January of this year, UK Ministers found that the UAE’s stake in Vodafone was a threat to national security and ordered that the company establish a special committee to oversee work that has a bearing on British security. Sir Robert’s analysis follows the disastrous UAE-backed attempt to buy The Telegraph Group. Questions are now being asked about attempts by the UAE to buy UK institutions and critical infrastructure.
With clear evidence of the UAE’s sophisticated intelligence gathering apparatus and its history of spying, there are serious concerns about Emirati ownership of Vodafone and other businesses. Where foreign ownership comes from states which have a history of repressive activity and espionage, real caution and scrutiny is required. The report sets out the risks and concerns surrounding the UAE’s ownership of Vodafone and calls for vigilance.
