Zain publishes 14th annual sustainability report, titled ‘The New Paradigm Shift'
Zain Group, a leading provider of innovative ICT and digital lifestyle communication services operating in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa, released its 14th annual sustainability report, entitled: 'The New Paradigm Shift,' reflecting the company's dedication to responsible business practices. Zain remains one of the most transparent and accountable corporate entities in the entire Middle East and North Africa region with respect to the publication of its sustainability programs and their outcomes.
As in previous years, the report reflects Zain's commitment to meaningful connectivity that leads to equitable systemic change and empowers the communities that Zain proudly serves, which is at the center of Zain's Corporate Sustainability strategy on development and economic empowerment.
'The New Paradigm Shift' highlights the numerous sustainability programs and their outcomes implemented under the four pillars of Zain's corporate sustainability strategy – namely 'Climate Change; Operating Responsibly; Inclusion; and Generation Youth'; that embrace and emphasize the material importance to the company of addressing issues related to preserving the planet and safeguarding it for future generations; access to connectivity and reducing the digital literacy gap; displacement; as well as employee development and social well-being, given the rise in geo-political and economic issues regionally.
Commenting on the publication, Zain Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Jennifer Sulieman said, 'We are in an era of technological innovation that allows us to develop and introduce initiatives that are the most impactful they have ever been. Zain takes responsibility as a regional pioneer in bringing the latest technologies that drive positive societal development and meaningful connectivity across our footprint.'
Suleiman continued, 'What Zain does matters, and we continue to implement ESG principles, climate action, children rights, displacement, connectivity, advancing digital transformation, literacy, and stakeholder collaboration to build resilience, so that amid socio-economic challenges and regional conflicts, Zain may remain a beacon of hope, delivering life-changing solutions for the benefit and upliftment of current and future generations.'
Key highlights
During 2024, the company's agenda continued to be driven by efforts to address socio-economic and environmental challenges across its footprint. Zain cemented the four pillars of its sustainability strategy through a comprehensive engagement process with various stakeholders. These included:
Climate Change: Focused on decarbonizing the business and transition towards Net-Zero by 2050 by receiving official approval from SBTi on its Net-Zero targets, Zain developed its water management plan to the unique conditions of each country operation. The plan detailed specific measures aimed at improving water usage across all of Zain's markets that saw the company achieve a 5.89% reduction of water consumption in comparison to 2023.
Furthermore, Zain continued in its commitment to CDP and provided its Climate Change Action, demonstrating a commitment to biodiversity conservation and nature preservation as integral components of its broader dedication to climate action. For example, Zain Omantel International (ZOI) requires its partners to conduct thorough environmental impact assessments aligned with regulatory and international standards.
Operate Responsibly: Embedding Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles across the entire value chain, the company further developed and scaled the supplier training program, launching its second training video highlighting the importance of upholding human rights, promoting ethical labor practices, as well as setting up grievance mechanisms. Zain trained 185 suppliers in 2024 in Zain's Supplier Code of Conduct, human rights and anti-corruption. Additionally, Zain continued its Supplier Self-Assessment questionnaire process with 604 suppliers groupwide to validate their commitment and alignment to sustainability policies and ethical principles.
In addition, the company continued to contribute to employment opportunities through Zain's distribution channel, in 2024 the company generated around 114,000 jobs across its value chain.
Inclusion: Aiming to reduce the digital inequality gap, the fourth cycle of 'Women in Tech' program launched in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Sudan to better address the needs of the target community through focus groups, surveys, and feedback sessions. A total of 485 young women joined the program across the Group, reflecting a 16% increase from 2023. Similarly, to better serve customers from the disability segment, the company provided specialized bundles for this demographic in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Zain continued to place a high priority on enhancing the skills of its employees either by upskilling or reskilling its workforce in line with the company's 4SIGHT digital transformation strategy. The Zain Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity University (IDEU) continued its collaboration with the prestigious IE University in Spain with the aim of extending learning opportunities to 2,000 Zain employees to participate in an inclusive online Digital Transformation program, also offering the possibility of attaining a master's degree.
Generation Youth: Aimed at building resilience across communities by targeting 16 million children and youth, the company was recognized amongst 3,000 of the largest corporations globally on key children's rights categories, whereby the company scored higher than the sector and industry averages, tripling the ranking of many regional corporates. In the benchmarking rankings, Zain scored 8.4/10 overall against a sector average of 5.6/10 and a regional average of 2.8/10. The average of all companies benchmarked was 4.3/10.
As an advocate for children's rights and in alignment with the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 16.2, which aims to end all forms of violence against children by 2030, Zain continued to support the cause by introducing a powerful campaign in response to the rising global violence that is impacting children disproportionately. This initiative followed the escalating crises and conflicts worldwide, where children are bearing the brunt of severe hardships and violence, affecting their physical and mental well-being. The campaign, titled #EveryChildHasRights, was designed to highlight the critical threats faced by children in conflict-affected regions and support for their protection. It included a compelling video underscoring the urgent need to safeguard children's rights, engaging audiences in meaningful and emotional dialog. Through this campaign, Zain aimed to create a global call to action and foster a deeper understanding of the pressing issues at hand. The campaign successfully garnered 16.5 million impressions across Zain's footprint during 2024, amplifying its message and driving significant awareness on this crucial issue.
Also in 2024, Zain launched a two-phase campaign on excessive screen time focusing on both children and parents, reaching 43.9 million impressions and prompting 82% of viewers to set screen time boundaries. Polls undertaken of the successful campaign indicated a 100% increased awareness on managing screen use.
Moreover, Zain continued its partnership with Child Helpline International (CHI), advancing its three-year MoU to support and improve the effectiveness of child helplines across Zain's footprint. This collaboration strengthens engagement between helplines and key child protection stakeholders, including governments and regulators, while advancing platform technologies and expanding services to instant messaging and social media.
Towards the end of 2024, Zain unveiled a new enhanced five-year corporate strategy, '4WARD-Progress with Purpose'. The new program builds on the success of the 4SIGHT strategy and is focused on continuity, acceleration, collaboration and innovation, and is designed to foster value creation by accelerating the company's evolution from a predominantly mobile centric operator into a purpose driven and sustainability focused technology entity. Zain looks to maximize its full potential as a customer-centric, future-proof, and impactful leading regional TechCo conglomerate, and its sustainability strategy will be adapted accordingly
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Bawaba
3 days ago
- Al Bawaba
Boursa Kuwait continues its efforts to increase ESG awareness and highlight its strategic long-term value creation
As part of its continued commitment to enhance Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices in the Kuwaiti capital market raise awareness among its participants, Boursa Kuwait organized a workshop entitled 'ESG Reporting Readiness: From Compliance to Strategic Value' on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in collaboration with Clenergize Consultants, an Environmental and Sustainability consulting firm with a global presence spanning the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Africa and the United States of workshop, led by Clenergize's Managing Director, Mr. Shyam Yadev, and Regional Business Development Manager, Ms. Haya Kalou, highlighted how sustainability reports can be leveraged as a strategic tool to drive growth and serve as a key factor in evaluating regulatory and financial risks. It emphasized the role of sustainability reporting in enhancing access to capital, achieving long-term sustainable growth, strengthening market reputation and improving long-term institutional performance to enable listed companies to keep pace with the evolving ESG and sustainability workshop also highlighted clear evidence linking ESG performance to enhanced shareholder value, improved credit ratings and increased corporate resilience, which was supported by case studies from several global companies. It also covered ESG-related financial instruments, such as sustainability-linked loans as well as bonds and sukuk and explored the incentives for adopting ESG practices. Additionally, the workshop highlighted the latest trends and best practices adopted in Kuwait and across the GCC and demonstrated the added value of ESG practices across various Kuwait's Head of Markets Ms. Noura Al-Abdulkareem hailed the workshop, saying, 'Boursa Kuwait reaffirms its commitment to supporting market participants in enhancing their ESG capabilities by keeping them informed of the latest global standards and evolving disclosure practices, aligned with regulatory frameworks. To that end, the exchange recently updated its rules and disclosure requirements to further enhance transparency and reporting practices.''Boursa Kuwait continues to promote the adoption of ESG principles in the Kuwaiti capital market, enabling listed companies to align their operations with global best practices and standards. In the past few years, the company has published a comprehensive ESG Disclosure Guide and has continued to organize specialized workshops in this field since 2020, recognizing the strategic importance of ESG and its positive impact on enhancing business models and creating long-term value, which in turn reinforces confidence in the market and contributes to expanding its investment opportunities,' she of sustainability reports will become mandatory for companies listed on Boursa Kuwait's 'Premier' Market starting in 2026, in line with the Capital Markets Authority circular number 4 issued earlier this year. As such, companies are required to prepare their 2025 sustainability reports and publish them on the Boursa Kuwait website no later than the second quarter of 2026. Additionally, the exchange has updated its rules and amended disclosure requirements to ensure compliance by listed companies, continuing its efforts to enhance transparency and disclosure standards across the market.'ESG is rapidly evolving from a regulatory obligation to a core business strategy as companies that proactively integrate ESG considerations into their operations are mitigating risks and strengthening stakeholder trust, unlocking access to new sources of capital through their enhanced transparency. This session aimed to demonstrate how ESG can be a driver of long-term value and competitive advantage across various sectors,' said Mr. Shyam Nadev, the Managing Director of added, "Boursa Kuwait's commitment to integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into their operations sets a powerful precedent for the region, as they have shown exemplary leadership in advancing sustainability within the financial sector. Their efforts help pave the way for a more resilient and transparent capital market that is ready for the future. I would like to thank the bourse for hosting this informative session and look forward to more collaborations going forward.'The initiative forms part of Boursa Kuwait's efforts to create a lasting meaningful impact on the community where it operates as part of its Corporate Sustainability strategy and ongoing efforts to equip all market participants with an in-depth understanding of the functioning of capital markets and various tools and techniques required to make informed investment decisions and effectively meet investors' needs. It is also in line with Goal 4 – Quality Education – and Goal 17 – Partnership for the Goals - of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Boursa Kuwait's Corporate Sustainability strategy stipulates ensuring initiatives apply and fall in line with the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR), industry best practice standards and investor expectations, creating strong and sustainable partnerships that ultimately achieve success and allow Boursa Kuwait to leverage the capabilities and strengths of other companies or organizations that have experience in different fields, and integrating sustainability efforts with the company culture, in order to achieve longevity and an ongoing impact that is carried on and instilled in the day-to-day operations of the stock exchange. As part of the strategy, Boursa Kuwait has launched many initiatives in partnership with local and international organizations, focusing on support for nongovernmental organizations and charity programs, financial literacy and capital market awareness, the empowerment of women, and environmental protection.
Al Bawaba
26-05-2025
- Al Bawaba
Boursa Kuwait recognized by Global Finance for its outstanding financial leadership in community sustainability
Boursa Kuwait was awarded the 'Best for Sustaining Communities – Middle East' award for 2025 by Global Finance as part of the magazine's Sustainable Finance and Investment Banking Awards ceremony in London, United Kingdom, on May 13, 2025. Global Finance's recognition of Boursa Kuwait reaffirms the company's unwavering commitment to the highest standards of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) implementation and reporting and adopting them within its operational framework. It also reflects Boursa Kuwait's strategic vision of embedding a culture of corporate sustainability through impactful initiatives that drive lasting, positive change in the community and support the development of a more transparent and efficient capital market. Adopting a comprehensive approach, Boursa Kuwait has supported social, educational, and environmental programs to empower various segments of the population and expand access to financial literacy. These initiatives are in full alignment with the objectives of Kuwait's National Development Plan, reinforcing the company's position as a key driver of sustainable development in the country. In 2024, Boursa Kuwait continued its commitment to supporting social and environmental programs in collaboration with local and international organizations. Throughout the year, the bourse sponsored 38 initiatives aimed at creating a lasting, positive impact on the community it serves, including numerous environmental programs and initiatives designed to empower women. Additionally, the company launched the inaugural edition of the 'Bell' initiative to raise financial literacy and awareness. This initiative aims to position financial education as a cornerstone for achieving financial stability, economic development, and social prosperity, in partnership with several distinguished local organizations. Commenting on the award, Boursa Kuwait's Senior Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications Mr. Naser Meshari Al-Sanousi stated, 'This international award stands as another testament to Boursa Kuwait's continued leadership in corporate sustainability and social responsibility. The company is proud to see its efforts recognized by a prestigious publication like Global Finance, a reflection of the international business community's confidence in our business model and our commitment to transparency and positive impact. Boursa Kuwait remains focused on strengthening strategic partnerships and advancing sustainable practices across Kuwait's financial sector.' 'Boursa Kuwait firmly believes that sustainability is a shared responsibility across all segments of society, and a unique opportunity to build a prosperous future for generations to come. On behalf of Boursa Kuwait, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Global Finance for this recognition, which serves as a strong motivator to continue innovating across our initiatives and delivering added value to the Kuwaiti community and the national economy,' he added. This marks the second time Boursa Kuwait has received this prestigious honor from Global Finance, following its initial win in 2023. The company was also named 'Best in Sustainability Transparency' for both 2023 and 2024, further underscoring its leadership in ESG disclosure and sustainable business practices. Since 2018, the company has won over 25 awards in sustainability from several internationally renowned institutions and publications. The Global Finance Sustainable Finance Awards recognize global, regional and local leadership in sustainable finance, commending the efforts of financial institutions that support and adopt initiatives aimed at mitigating the negative impacts of climate change and building a more sustainable future for humanity. Award recipients are selected based on their contributions to comprehensive sustainable finance, community support, resource management, transparency and reporting, as well as their overall commitment to sustainable financing. Boursa Kuwait's Corporate Sustainability (CS) strategy stipulates ensuring initiatives apply and fall in line with the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) pillars, industry best practice standards and investor expectations, creating strong and sustainable partnerships that ultimately achieve success and allow Boursa Kuwait to leverage the capabilities and strengths of other companies or organizations that have experience in different fields, and integrating sustainability efforts with the company culture, to achieve longevity and an ongoing impact that is carried on and instilled in the day-to-day operations of the stock exchange. As part of the strategy, Boursa Kuwait has launched many initiatives in partnership with local and international organizations, focusing on support for nongovernmental organizations and charity programs, financial literacy and capital market awareness, the empowerment of women as well as environmental protection.
Al Bawaba
21-05-2025
- Al Bawaba
Burgan Bank Renews Its Sponsorship of the Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East Conference in Dubai
In its latest effort to play a proactive role in advancing the retail, corporate and investment banking sector across the region, Burgan Bank sponsored the Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East 2025 event alongside market leaders, including S&P Global, Fitch, J.P. Morgan, and numerous others. Considered the largest of its kind in the Middle East, the two-day conference attracted more than 75 expert speakers and over 1,800 senior capital market professionals, from government officials to corporate executives, investors, bankers, legal consultants, regulators, and service providers, including 80% of all regional issuers in 2024/2025. Burgan Bank's renewed sponsorship of this event confirms its steadfast commitment to advancing as a trusted financial partner with a growing portfolio of investment banking services tailored to the market's varying needs and aligned with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. In this regard, Mr. Abdullah Abdulmajeed Marafie, General Manager – Treasury & Financial Institutions at Burgan Bank, underscored the importance of sponsoring events as vital as Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East, which aligns with the Bank's strategic pillars of strengthening Kuwait's business and re-allocating assets through growing and diversifying Burgan Bank's corporate profile, fortifying its liquidity and risk profiles, as well as reinvesting and seeking growth opportunities in new markets. In addition, Burgan Bank's continued success at financing local and international government and government-related entities, as well as banks and financial institutions, echoes its funding strategy aimed at developing a diversified funding base to achieve sustainable growth and, in turn, contributing to the 'New Kuwait 2035' development plan with a core focus on sustainability and sustainable, ethical investment. On his part, Mr. Mohamed Najeeb Al Zanki, General Manager – Corporate Banking at Burgan Bank, said: 'Kuwait continues to grow as a destination for ambitious foreign investors seeking to expand their presence and be part of the momentous development that's reshaping the region. Thanks to Burgan Bank's expanding suite of corporate banking services and products, we are able to facilitate large-scale foreign investments that continue to drive positive change to our local infrastructure and most vital sectors.''At Burgan Bank, we recognize that success in corporate and investment banking is driven by strong connections across countries and markets. Events like Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East play a pivotal role in fostering these connections, providing a platform to deepen relationships and stay at the forefront of industry evolution. Through our sponsorship of such events, we gain timely insights into global and regional financial landscapes, which are essential to shaping a competitive advantage and central to our continued growth as a trusted partner for foreign institutions and corporate clients,' he added. This year, the conference addressed several pressing topics, beginning with 'MENA in 2025/26: Navigating Global Economic Shifts and Regional Challenges' and moving on to 'The Issuer Perspective: Financing Strategies from the Region's Leading Corporates'; 'Unlocking Growth and Global Potential in Islamic Finance'; and 'The evolution of loan syndications in the Middle East: Balancing pricing, sustainability, and competition', among other market-defining conversations. It's worth noting that Burgan Bank continues to focus on two key strategic goals within its overall business strategy: diversifying and growing its corporate portfolio whilst investing in expanding and leveraging its retail business. On the corporate front, the Bank has recently achieved several notable feats on the investment and financing fronts, including its acquisition of a 100% stake in United Gulf Bank B.S.C (UGB), a wholesale banking licensed in Bahrain with an 'Islamic window', in addition to signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Korea Finance for Construction (KFINCO), making Burgan Bank the sole representative bank in Kuwait for the South Korean co-op institution. Earlier successes also include the Bank's issuance of KD 150 million Perpetual Additional Tier 1 Capital Bonds, which were met with higher-than-anticipated demand, leading to oversubscription and confirming strong investor interest in the Bank's offerings. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba ( Signal PressWire is the world's largest independent Middle East PR distribution service.
