stc group milestones, partnerships in 2025

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stc group continued to strengthen its position in 2025 as a leading digital enabler in Saudi Arabia and the region, driven by improved financial performance, qualitative expansion of technology partnerships, accelerated investments in digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence, as well as progress in governance and sustainability practices.
 

stc stated that these developments represent another step forward in executing its long-term strategy, which focuses on building highly reliable digital infrastructure, accelerating cloud adoption, and expanding partnerships that support the Kingdom’s digital economy, thereby creating sustainable value for investors, customers, and vital sectors.
 

Data for 2025 showed that stc maintained its position as the largest mobile services provider, with the number of subscribers reaching 29.2 million by the end of the third quarter, reflecting annual growth of 6% and accounting for around 58% of the total market.
 

On the financial front, the group recorded its highest-ever revenues during the first nine months of 2025, with revenues rising to SAR 57.92 billion, up 2.6% year-on-year (YoY), supported by sustained demand for telecom services, digital solutions, and business expansion.

Operating profit increased to SAR 10.83 billion, up 2.4%, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) reached approximately SAR 18.50 billion, marking growth of 5.7%. Net profit amounted to SAR 11.58 billion, up 3.1%, while adjusted net profit excluding non-recurring items rose by 14.8%.
 

The group announced cash dividend of 5.5% for each of the first, second, and third quarters of 2025, equivalent to SAR 0.55 a share per quarter, totaling SAR 2.74 billion for each period. This brought total dividends distributed since the beginning of the year to around SAR 8.23 billion, or SAR 1.65 a share, by the end of the third quarter.
 

The board of directors recommended for the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) the repurchase of 26 million shares to be allocated to the employee incentive program. The buyback will be funded from internal resources, with the shares held as treasury shares until approved.
 

On the technology partnerships front, LEAP 2025 marked a major milestone in the group’s expansion, as stc announced the signing of 75 strategic agreements aimed at accelerating AI adoption, developing digital services, and building partnership ecosystems with global and local players.
 

As part of this direction, Center3, a stc group subsidiary, announced a strategic partnership with HUMAIN to develop AI-dedicated data center infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, with operational capacity reaching up to 1 gigawatt and initial capacity starting at 250 megawatts, to support advanced computing requirements.
 

The partnerships also included strategic agreements in cloud computing and AI, most notably collaboration with AWS to support digital transformation and capability development, as well as a partnership with Cohere to enhance the development of generative AI solutions for enterprises.
 

On the infrastructure side, the group continued to strengthen its readiness through regional connectivity projects and advanced technical trials, including the signing of a cooperation framework with Ooredoo Oman to establish an international terrestrial fiber corridor between Saudi Arabia and Oman (SONIC), supporting regional route connectivity and data centers.
 

In a notable technical achievement, the group, in collaboration with Huawei, conducted a live fiber network data transmission trial achieving speeds of up to 2.4 terabits per second, according to specialized media coverage.
 

From a business solutions perspective, the group announced the launch of upsource as a brand and platform for advanced outsourcing solutions, aimed at enabling organizations to delegate non-core operations, improve operational efficiency, and enhance customer experience.
 

In support of major national projects, Red Sea Global and stc group launched a digital partnership exceeding SAR 1.2 billion to develop digital infrastructure and connectivity services for tourism destinations, supporting the smart destinations model and enhancing the overall digital experience for visitors.
 

At the end of the year, the group announced the completion of the integration of its digital media arm, Gulf Digital Media Model Co. Ltd (Intigral), and the relocation of its operations from the UAE to Saudi Arabia, as part of an effort to improve efficiency and unify operational structures.