Mobile networks across the Gulf appear to be doing a better job of maintaining performance when demand spikes, with the UAE and Qatar standing out in Ookla’s Q1 2026 analysis of network congestion and resilience.
Ookla examined mobile performance across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE using Speedtest Intelligence data. Five of those six markets posted lower congestion ratings than 80% of the European markets included in the comparison, while most also improved compared with Q1 2025.
The analysis goes beyond the headline download speeds normally used to compare mobile networks. Ookla’s congestion measurement considers factors including throughput degradation, loaded latency, jitter, queue growth and the decline in download performance experienced by the slowest 10% of users. Lower scores indicate networks are maintaining more consistent performance as traffic increases.
The UAE was among the strongest performers. Its median mobile download speed reached 647.28Mbps in April 2026, the highest recorded among the six Gulf countries covered by the report. During peak periods, UAE networks also performed above their overnight baseline across several measurements, including download speeds and loaded latency.
That does not mean congestion has disappeared. Ookla found that the bottom 10% of UAE users experienced a larger year-on-year decline in download speeds, highlighting how national averages can obscure the experience of customers in particularly busy locations.
Ramadan also demonstrates how network demand can change dramatically depending on local routines. In the UAE, the ratio between peak and baseline speeds dropped to around 0.5x during the morning commute. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia experienced significant pressure around iftar, with ratios falling to roughly 0.6x. Qatar, meanwhile, operated below its off-peak baseline for 83% of the time during Ramadan.
Seasonal behaviour adds another complication. Cooler Gulf weather brings more residents and visitors outdoors, increasing mobile traffic during evenings and early mornings. During hotter periods, indoor activity and greater reliance on Wi-Fi can reduce pressure on cellular infrastructure.
The findings are particularly relevant as Gulf operators continue investing heavily in 5G capacity. Extremely fast benchmark results make for impressive marketing numbers, but sustained performance during crowded commutes, major events and other traffic spikes arguably tells users more about how a network will behave in everyday conditions.
Ookla’s results suggest Gulf networks are handling those pressures relatively well, particularly in the UAE and Qatar. But the deterioration experienced by slower users is also a reminder that a 600Mbps-plus national median does not guarantee everyone receives an equally consistent connection.
