# eDahab: the Dahabshiil group's mobile money service

> eDahab in facts: who owns it, how it links to Dahabshiil and Somtel, the 2018 Somaliland shilling rule, the 2018 launch in Mogadishu, and its links with banks.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/businesses/edahab/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## The short version

**eDahab** is the mobile money service of [Somtel](/en/businesses/somtel/), a phone company headquartered in Hargeisa and largely owned by the [Dahabshiil](/en/businesses/dahabshiil/) group ([Wikipedia, Somtel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somtel)). It lets customers put money onto their phones, pay for goods, and send money to people at home and abroad through Somtel ([Capital FM, 14 March 2018](https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/2018/03/edahab-complies-somaliland-govt-regulations-money-transfer/)). [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/) Press reported the launch of eDahab in Somaliland in an article archived in April 2015 ([Somaliland Press, archived 2 April 2015](https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144805/http://www.somalilandpress.com/somalilandsomtel-launches-e-dahab-mobile-money-services/)).

## Place in the market

A 2019 Clingendael study found that the Hormuud-aligned companies (Hormuud, Telesom and Golis) held about **81 percent** of SIM cards across Somalia and Somaliland. [Dahabshiil](/en/economy/hawala-and-money-transfer-companies/), through Somtel, held about **16 percent** ([Clingendael, Transnational capital in Somalia, 2019, box 7](https://kpsrl.org/sites/kpsrl/files/2020-03/transnational-capital-in-somalia%20updated%20report.pdf)). In Somaliland, eDahab competes with Telesom's [Zaad](/en/businesses/zaad/).

## The 2018 shilling rule

In March 2018 the Somaliland government ruled that all mobile payments **under $100** be made in **Somaliland shillings** ([Capital FM, 14 March 2018](https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/2018/03/edahab-complies-somaliland-govt-regulations-money-transfer/)). It also barred mobile money firms from offering currency exchange. The aim was to steady the shilling's exchange rate, reduce the use of dollars in daily trade and slow price rises. The [Central Bank of Somaliland](/en/institutions/bank-of-somaliland/) confirmed the rule ([Capital FM, 14 March 2018](https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/2018/03/edahab-complies-somaliland-govt-regulations-money-transfer/)).

eDahab said it would comply. Customers could still deposit and hold dollar amounts above $100. Dahabshiil's chief executive, [Abdirashid Duale](/en/people/abdirashid-duale/), said eDahab would not offer exchange services and would keep supporting independent money changers (same source).

## Launch in Mogadishu, 2018

In early November 2018 Somtel launched its **3G and 4G** network in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia, together with **eDahab**. It also said it would offer shares in the company to the public ([Hiiraan Online, 5 November 2018](https://hiiraan.com/news4/2018/Nov/161007/excitement_as_mogadishu_gets_4g_mobile_network.aspx); [Somaliland Standard, 6 November 2018](https://somalilandstandard.com/somtel-expands-services-to-mogadishu)). At the launch, the group's founder and chairman, [Mohamed Said Duale](/en/people/mohamed-said-duale/), said eDahab and Dahabshil Bank would give customers more banking and financial services. Somalia's deputy prime minister and former president [Hassan Sheikh Mohamud](/en/people/hassan-sheikh-mohamud/) attended (same sources).

## Links with banks

- eDahab works alongside [Dahabshil Bank International](/en/businesses/dahabshil-bank-international/), the group's Islamic bank ([Hiiraan Online, 5 November 2018](https://hiiraan.com/news4/2018/Nov/161007/excitement_as_mogadishu_gets_4g_mobile_network.aspx)).
- Somaliland's Wadaag Bank wallet connects to both Zaad and eDahab ([Mobile money in Somalia](/en/economy/mobile-money/)).

For the other services, see [EVC Plus](/en/businesses/evc-plus/), [Zaad](/en/businesses/zaad/) and [Sahal](/en/businesses/sahal/). For the wider picture, see [Mobile money in Somalia](/en/economy/mobile-money/).

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