UAE's Etisalat to see more profit from foreign ops

DUBAI, April 17 (Reuters) - Emirates Telecommunications Corp ETEL.AD (Etisalat), the largest Arab telecom company by market value, said foreign operations will contribute more to profit this year as its United Arab Emirates home market matures.

Operations in countries such as Saudi Arabia, where Etisalat has a stake in the one of two mobile phone operators, will lead the diversification of revenue, Chief Executive Officer Mohammed al-Qamzi told Reuters on Thursday, after the company said it posted a record profit on more mobile phone users in the UAE.

Profit growth this year will exceed 15 percent, Qamzi said. (Reporting by James Cordahi; Editing by John Irish)