
Zain KSA appoints Saad Al-Sadhan as chief executive
Al-Sadhan has held the position of the acting CEO of Zain KSA since August 2024. He brings more than 22 years of expertise in telecommunications and information technology. Prior to this role, he served as the chief business and wholesale officer of Zain KSA and led B2B sector growth across the company, positioning its portfolio of business solutions and services as a key enabler of the Kingdom's digital business transformation. He also led Zain KSA's strategic partnerships and stakeholder relations while driving the development of cutting-edge digital products and solutions.
Additionally, Al-Sadhan played a key role in the launch of Zain Cloud, supporting the digital transformation of Saudi Arabia's public and private sectors in line with Saudi Vision 2030's goal of building a fully integrated digital economy. He was also instrumental in developing a comprehensive digital ecosystem that brings together innovative telecom services and cloud solutions, underpinned by advanced 5G technologies. Additionally, he strengthened Zain KSA's business and wholesale operations, enhancing network capabilities through strategic investments aimed at meeting the full range of market demands in these segments.
Al-Sadhan also played a key role in advancing the enterprise sector by building Zain KSA's integrated business services and solutions ecosystem. His efforts aligned with the company's strategic objectives to support government entities in achieving their digital goals and to empower companies across various industries to grow, enhance their competitiveness locally and regionally, and stay ahead of the evolving business landscape.
Since joining Zain KSA in April 2016, Al-Sadhan has placed strategic partnerships at the heart of his approach.
He contributed to developing a forward-looking strategy for long-term partnerships with government entities and leading global tech companies. This has enabled the swift introduction of cutting-edge technologies into the Kingdom, while also driving knowledge transfer and localization.
Before joining Zain KSA, Al-Sadhan held various leadership roles at prominent local and international telecom companies. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals, in addition to several professional certifications in leadership and information technology, as well as a General Management Program certificate from Institut Européen d'Administration des Affaires.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Yemen's Houthis threaten to target ships linked to firms dealing with Israeli ports
Yemen's Houthis said on Sunday they would target any ships belonging to companies that do business with Israeli ports, regardless of their nationalities, as part of what they called the fourth phase of their military operations against Israel. In a televised statement, the Houthis' military spokesperson warned that ships would be attacked if companies ignored their warnings, regardless of their destination. 'The Yemeni Armed Forces call on all countries, if they want to avoid this escalation, to pressure the enemy to halt its aggression and lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip,' he added. Since Israel's war in Gaza began in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking ships they deem as bound or linked to Israel in what they say are acts of solidarity with Palestinians. In May, the US announced a surprise deal with the Houthis where it agreed to stop a bombing campaign against them in return for an end to shipping attacks, though the Houthis said the deal did not include sparing Israel.


Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
From Tuwaiq to Qasioun: building a bright future with hearts before hands
It has been nearly 15 years since my last trip to Damascus as chairman of the Saudi-Syrian Businessmen Council. Since then, bilateral business and investment activities have been suspended due to the geopolitical situation. Last week, it was a delight to witness the tremendous success of the first investment forum between the two countries, held under the new Syrian leadership and its government. Led by Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih on the Saudi side, more than 20 government agencies and more than 100 private sector companies from Saudi Arabia participated in the forum. These represented various sectors, including energy, infrastructure, financial services, healthcare, agriculture, and communications and information technology. Approximately 47 agreements worth SR24 billion ($6.4 billion) were signed, covering a wide range of fields, including energy, real estate, finance, logistics, healthcare, and tourism. In his speech, Al-Falih emphasized that the forum reflects the belief that the private sector is a key partner in achieving shared investment goals between the two countries. He encouraged Saudi and international investors to explore opportunities in the Syrian Arab Republic and contribute to its strategic projects, thereby fostering mutual benefits across vital sectors. It is worth noting that the timing of the forum was ideal, especially following the lifting of global sanctions on Syria and the release of the revised investment law. The updated law aims to enhance the investment climate by offering investors more guarantees and incentives, streamlining procedures, and improving transparency. One of the signed agreements was between the Saudi Tadawul Group and the Damascus Securities Exchange, aiming to enhance cooperation in financial technologies, dual listings, data exchange, and the creation of investment funds to boost investment in Syria. Subject to regulatory approval, we at BMG plan to reopen our offices in Damascus, establish a country fund, take family businesses public, and offer advisory services for dual listings between the two exchanges. The new chairman of the Saudi-Syrian Businessmen Council, Mohammed Abu Nayan, who is also the chairman of ACWA Power, said during the forum that Syria and Saudi Arabia are one nation, and that 'we came to Damascus as long-term partners, not just traders. We, as the private sector, are committed to investing in Syria, and we have already begun.' With the direct blessing and endorsement of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the path to Syria's economic prosperity has already been laid. Between the iconic Mount Tuwaiq in Riyadh and Mount Qasioun in Damascus, a bright future will be built — by hearts before hands. • Basil M.K. Al-Ghalayini is chairman and CEO of BMG Financial Group.


Leaders
3 hours ago
- Leaders
Saudi Arabia Hits Record 144% in Mining Exploration Licenses in H1
Saudi Arabia has achieved a remarkable milestone by issuing a record number of new mining exploration licenses in the first half of 2025. Official data reveals a staggering 144% year-on-year increase, with a total of 22 licenses granted, marking a significant rise from just nine licenses issued during the same period last year. The surge reflects growing investor interest and the government's commitment to enhancing the mining sector's competitiveness. Aligning with Vision 2030 This increase aligns with the rapid growth of the Kingdom's mining industry, which serves as a central pillar in its Vision 2030 diversification strategy. Saudi Arabia aims to boost the sector's contribution to gross domestic product from $17 billion to $75 billion by 2035. The government supports this effort by accelerating the exploration and development of the Kingdom's estimated mineral wealth, valued at over SR9.4 trillion ($2.5 trillion). Jarrah bin Mohammed Al-Jarrah, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, stated that 23 mining companies invested in the new licenses during the first half of this year. Notably, 16 of these companies obtained mining licenses for the first time. The total investment in these licenses exceeds SR134 million, covering an area of 47 square kilometers. The spokesperson also highlighted that the projects associated with these licenses are expected to produce approximately 7.86 million tonnes annually of various mineral ores. These ores include salt, clay, silica sand, low-grade iron ore, feldspar, and gypsum. Currently, the total number of active mining and small-mine exploitation licenses in the Kingdom stands at 239. This total includes 32 Category A licenses for strategic minerals such as gold, copper, phosphate, and bauxite. Additionally, there are 207 Category B licenses for industrial minerals, including silica sand, gypsum, limestone, salt, and clay. Attracting Investments Earlier in July, Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Khalid Al-Mudaifer informed Asharq Business that the Kingdom's mining reforms have successfully attracted $32 billion in investments. These investments span projects involving iron, phosphate, aluminum, and copper. This amount represents nearly one-third of Saudi Arabia's ambitious target to attract $100 billion in mining investments by 2030. Al-Mudaifer emphasized that mineral exploration spending in the Kingdom has quadrupled since 2018. It now reaches $100 per square kilometer, with an impressive annual growth rate of 32%. This growth significantly surpasses the global average of 6 to 8%. In summary, Saudi Arabia's mining sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by strategic investments and government reforms, driving the Kingdom well on its way to achieving its ambitious goals outlined in Vision 2030. Short link : Post Views: 7