The Qatar-based global telecom major has also set its eyes on bringing state-of-the-art communication products and services and enhancing its offering in key markets across Middle East, North Africa and Asia.
Speaking to Gulf Times yesterday Sheikh Abdullah said Qatar will remain a "key focus area" for Ooredoo , where the company has invested a huge amount to enhance its network and offering to customers.
"For us Qatar is very important; we want to be very strong in our home country. We will spotlight here on data and business to business, in addition to customer service," Sheikh Abdullah said.
At the Lusail Development, Ooredoo has signed an agreement to set up a "smart city" there, he said.
Ooredoo has continued to be one of the fastest-growing communications companies in the world, thanks to diversification and in particular due to a strong focus on data services across its footprint.
"Over the course of the last year, we have evolved our products and services, enhanced our networks, and launched a series of key initiatives to support our customers, as well as beginning our work in Myanmar; 2013 was a very successful year," he added.
Earlier, addressing Ooredoo shareholders at the company AGM at the Four Seasons, Sheikh Abdullah said, "Transforming our company into Ooredoo was always about much more than simply changing our name. The transformation process was about taking our company to the next level - bringing our strategy to life with a new, dynamic brand and leveraging our combined resources to transform our customer offering."
He highlighted some of Ooredoo 's achievements in the last financial year, including the global launch of the Ooredoo brand, and subsequent national launches in markets such as Qatar, Algeria and the Maldives.
In addition, Sheikh Abdullah discussed the company's success in winning a commercial licence forOoredoo 's newest market, Myanmar, and the company's progress in rolling out 4G and fibre services in several key markets. Ooredoo companies also launched 3G services in Tunisia and Algeria during 2013. Ooredoo now has nearly 96mn customers across its regional footprint.
In Qatar, Ooredoo saw healthy revenue growth, expanding its total number of customers by 13% to 2.9mn with particularly strong growth in mobile broadband, entertainment services and Fibre programme, which roped in more than 245,000 homes by 2013-end.
Ooredoo shareholders approved the recommendation of the board of directors to distribute a cash dividend of 40% of the nominal share value, which translates into QR4 a share.
Shareholders also elected Ibrahim Abdulla al-Mahmoud to fill the vacant position on the board.
Ooredoo 's consolidated revenue increased by 1% to QR33.9bn last year, while net profit attributable to company shareholders went down by 12.5% to QR2.6bn.