UAE Firm e& Increases Stake in UK’s Vodafone Group to 17%

The UAE’s largest telecom operator, e&, has seen its shareholding in the British telecom giant Vodafone Group rise to 17 per cent. This increase is part of e&’s long-term investment strategy in Vodafone, strengthening its presence in the global telecom market.

e& initially acquired a 9.8 per cent stake in Vodafone in May 2022 for $4.4 billion. Over the following years, the holding gradually increased, reaching 12 per cent in 2023, and now stands at 17.0050 per cent.

The recent rise was not due to additional share purchases by e&, but rather a result of Vodafone’s ongoing share buyback programme, which reduces the total number of shares outstanding. e&’s total number of shares remains the same at 3,944.7 million, meaning its percentage of ownership automatically increased.

Vodafone recently launched a €500 million share buyback from February 5 to May 11, aimed at reducing its share capital. The company had earlier announced a €2 billion buyback in May 2024, following the sale of Vodafone Spain to Zegona Communications. In November 2025, Vodafone also repurchased nine million shares from Goldman Sachs as part of the programme.

Vodafone’s shares closed last week at £115.45, reflecting continued investor confidence amid these buybacks. The move highlights e&’s strategic commitment to Vodafone and its broader ambitions in international telecom markets.