Latest news with #Zain
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Zain ‘first telecom operator in Kuwait to adopt DHL's GoGreen Plus service'
Reducing air freight emissions using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) KUWAIT: Zain announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with global logistics leader DHL to adopt the eco-friendly GoGreen Plus service, becoming the first telecom operator in Kuwait to implement this solution aimed at reducing carbon emissions from air freight through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The signing took place at the Zain Innovation Center (ZINC) at the company's headquarters in Shuwaikh, joined by Waleed Al-Khashti, Chief Corporate Affairs and Relations Officer at Zain Kuwait; Makram Raad, Country Manager of DHL Kuwait; and senior executives from both partners. This step aligns with Zain's corporate sustainability strategy and marks a new milestone in the company's journey toward decarbonizing its operations and supply chain. It also supports the company's commitment to the Paris Agreement and Zain's plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Commenting on the partnership, Waleed Al-Khashti said: 'At Zain, we believe the transition to a green economy starts not only internally but also across our partner ecosystem and supply chain. That's why our partnership with DHL to adopt the GoGreen Plus service reflects a model that embodies this direction.' He added: 'This step enables us to reduce carbon emissions from our air freight shipments and enhances our ability to meet our environmental commitments under our corporate sustainability strategy. We are proud to lead the local telecom market toward achieving sustainable development goals and to continue reinforcing our role as a regionally responsible and environmentally conscious organization.' Waleed Al-Khashti and Makram Raad sign the partnership agreement. Makram Raad, Country Manager of DHL Kuwait, commented: 'Through this agreement between Zain and DHL, both parties reaffirm their commitment to the local Kuwaiti community by continuing to decarbonize supply chains in pursuit of cleaner operations and better climate protection. It also strengthens both sides' positions in promoting awareness and embracing the responsibilities that all key players must uphold to achieve sustainability strategy goals.' DHL's GoGreen Plus service provides a sustainable alternative by using SAF produced from renewable sources such as used cooking oil or plant waste. SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80 percent compared to conventional jet fuel. The service is based on the Book & Claim methodology, which allows DHL to separate the environmental benefit from the actual shipping location, enabling companies to benefit from SAF use anywhere in the world. Through this partnership, Zain will be able to reduce its Scope 3 carbon footprint associated with air freight emissions, further supporting the company's ability to accurately report its carbon emissions and meet its environmental goals. This initiative builds on several recent actions by Zain to increase the use of clean energy, including installing solar panels at its headquarters to replace conventional car park shading, implementing the region's first comprehensive Scope 3 supply chain monitoring system, and deploying artificial intelligence solutions to optimize network energy efficiency. In its 14th Annual Sustainability Report, Zain Group reaffirmed its deep commitment to environmental protection and climate action as a core pillar of its five-year strategy. In 2024, the Group secured approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its climate goals. Zain also adopted the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol to calculate emissions and aligned its emission factors with the International Energy Agency (IEA) standards to ensure consistency across its markets. It implemented a market-specific water management plan, achieving a 5.89 percent reduction in water consumption compared to the previous year, and maintained its commitment to voluntary disclosures under global standards such as GRI, SASB, and TCFD. Zain further reinforced its commitment to nature and biodiversity conservation through its ongoing participation in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and by expanding sustainability across its value chain, including supplier training in ethical business practices and environmental compliance. The company has also adopted a rigorous supply chain governance approach to ensure its partners align with Zain's values and are assessed against sustainability criteria. These initiatives reflect Zain's roadmap toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and reaffirm its leadership in climate action and environmental responsibility within the regional telecom sector. This partnership also aligns with DHL's roadmap to use 30 percent SAF in its air network by 2030, as part of its broader strategy to transition to clean operations for climate protection, which includes electric fleets and green logistics services.
Kuwait Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Mnakh launches first sustainability practices index for Kuwait market
Sustainability index reveals performance of listed companies KUWAIT: Mnakh Research and Studies Company has launched Kuwait's first index to measure sustainability practices in the local market, marking a significant step in evaluating the performance of listed companies on Boursa Kuwait based on environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. The index serves as a launchpad to promote sustainable practices and align with global trends in responsible business. In a press release on Tuesday, Mnakh stated that this sustainability index aligns with the global shift towards a greener, more inclusive economy, and supports the goals of the New Kuwait 2035 vision. Sustainability, it added, represents a comprehensive vision for companies as they design and implement strategic plans. Investment opportunities The company emphasized that international markets now view sustainability as a driver of innovation and competitiveness, shifting from being merely a moral obligation to becoming a source of investment opportunities. Global best practices, including transparent reporting based on ESG standards, are now integral to investor decision-making. The Capital Markets Authority has required companies listed in the Premier Market to disclose annual sustainability reports, promoting fairness, competitiveness and transparency. These reports will be mandatory for the 2025 fiscal year, starting from 2026. Many Kuwaiti companies have already integrated sustainability into their investment decisions and operations, adopting initiatives to improve resource efficiency, promote social justice, address climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and establish responsible business standards. Market demand for sustainability continues to grow in parallel with increasing awareness among investors and consumers. Mnakh noted that the sustainability index utilizes artificial intelligence to analyze corporate reports, offering accurate and transparent assessments of ESG performance. The index is based on a structured methodology using international standards and specific weighting for each sector according to its unique challenges and risks. Companies are rated across 12 categories, from AAA+ to D. 2023 index results According to Mnakh, the 2023 results show that most listed Kuwaiti companies meet the basic sustainability requirements. In the banking sector, National Bank of Kuwait topped the list with a score of 79.60 points (A+). In telecommunications, Zain led with 78.90 points (A+), while Boursa Kuwait ranked first in financial services with 81.90 points (AA). In real estate, Mabanee scored highest with 77.7 points (A+), while Agility led the industrial sector with 83.25 points (AA) — the highest score across all companies in Kuwait. In consumer goods, Jazeera Airways topped the sector with 72.63 points (A). Across ESG pillars, Zain ranked highest in environmental performance with 87.5 points, reflecting a strong commitment to sustainable environmental practices. In the social pillar, NBK, Agility and Boursa Kuwait all shared the top spot with 83 points, highlighting their robust social programs and attention to human capital and community engagement. Kuwait Finance House led the governance pillar with 84 points, indicating strong governance systems and corporate transparency. These results underscore Kuwaiti companies' growing ability to embed sustainability principles into their operations. Their rankings in ESG categories demonstrate that compliance with these standards has become a fundamental element of growth and competitiveness strategies. Mnakh's Sustainability Index is more than just an assessment tool — it acts as a catalyst for positive competition and a driver toward a sustainable economy. It offers a unified, data-driven framework for evaluating listed companies, moving beyond numerical rankings to foster a responsible competitive culture. The index encourages continuous improvement and adoption of sustainable practices in environment, society and governance.
Daily Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Zain Bahrain joins hands with Lumofy
Zain Bahrain, a leading technology and telecom provider in the Kingdom, has announced a strategic partnership with Lumofy, a Bahrain-based AI-powered talent management platform, to provide advanced learning opportunities for its employees. Zain Bahrain employees will gain access to an extensive digital library of more than 100,000 training courses through this initiative, covering a variety of topics such as Customer Excellence, Negotiation, Big Data Analytics, and Strategic Planning. The partnership reflects Zain Bahrain's commitment to empowering its employees and their growth by creating a culture of continuous development. By using Lumofy's AI-powered platform, Zain can understand what skills employees need and personalize training programs to improve the impact of its development initiatives. Mohammed Zainalabedin, Zain Bahrain's Managing Director, commented: 'It's part of our ongoing efforts to enhance employee capabilities and create a supportive environment for sustainable development, boosting performance and strengthening employees' efficiency and readiness to navigate the evolving digital market. We are proud to collaborate with a Bahrain-based platform specialized in learning and development, confident that this step will have positive impact on our teams.' Ahmed Faraj, Founder and CEO of Lumofy, said: 'We're proud to partner with Zain Bahrain to adopt a smarter, more strategic approach to upskilling employees. This collaboration aims to build a comprehensive training and development experience, powered by Lumofy's advanced tools and aligned with Zain's business goals and future talent needs.'
Khaberni
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Khaberni
Tens of Thousands of Jordanians Gather as Zain Celebrates Jordan's 79th Independence Day with a Grand Festival at King Abdullah
In a majestic national scene that brought together tens of thousands of Jordanians, Zain Jordan celebrated the Kingdom's 79th Independence Day by organizing a massive public festival at King Abdullah II Park in Al-Muqabalein. The celebration was filled with an atmosphere of pride, patriotism, and loyalty to the wise Hashemite leadership. The event ran from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and witnessed wide attendance from families, children, and youth from across the Kingdom. It was attended by Amman Governor Yasser Al-Adwan, Sub-Governor of Al-Qweismeh District, Director of South Amman Police, Commander of the Capital Region, and a group of local community representatives. Zain curated a comprehensive national program for the event, hosted by media personalities Mohammad Al-Wakeel and Razan Salameh. The lineup featured impressive performances by the Jordanian Armed Forces Band, an air show by the Royal Jordanian Air Force's F-16 jets, and a skydiving show by the elite Free Fall Team—Jordanian Special Forces and the Falcons of the Aerial Operations Unit. A patriotic highlight of the evening was the release of a giant Jordanian flag soaring through the skies of the capital. The celebration also included interactive segments with popular content creators Yazan Nobani, Ahmad Ghanem (Abu Al-Ghor), and ElMenz team consisting of Moath Bzour, Hamzeh Al-Ghazou, and Mohammad Al-Zghoul. Zain handed out valuable prizes to the crowd, which responded with great enthusiasm. The festivities continued with a lineup of musical and folkloric performances by beloved Jordanian stars including Hussein Al-Salman, Saad Abu Tayeh, Hussam and Wissam Al-Louzi, and Hamdi Al-Munasir, in addition to the Ma'an Folklore Troupe, which added an authentic traditional flavor to the event. Zain had kicked off its Independence Day celebrations by changing the name of its network to 'J079' on subscribers' phones—a symbolic gesture blending Jordan's national mobile code '079' with the number '79' representing the years of independence, creating a unified name that reflects national pride and Zain's deep-rooted connection to Jordanian identity. Zain also gifted all its subscribers a free 79 GB data bundle through its mobile app (Zain Jo), enabling them to follow and share the Kingdom's Independence Day celebrations across social media platforms. Organizing this national event reaffirms Zain's commitment to its patriotic role and its dedication to celebrating with Jordanians on all national occasions—especially Independence Day, which the company has commemorated with grand celebrations for the past 20 years. The day symbolizes sovereignty, unity, and dignity. This celebration also aligns with Zain's strategy to instill national values and strengthen the sense of belonging and loyalty to the homeland and its Hashemite leadership, the unwavering guardians of independence and progress. It is worth mentioning that Zain also took part in the Independence Day festivities held yesterday, Saturday, at The Royal Automobile Museum in Al Hussein Gardens, which included a variety of national and entertainment activities for families and children, and featured the unveiling of the museum's new logo.
Kuwait Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Zain and Rakuten Symphony partner to deploy Cloud-Native Open RAN
KUWAIT: Zain Kuwait and Rakuten Symphony have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see the organizations collaborate on a pilot project to establish a functional cloud-native Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) in the country. Zain Kuwait will utilize Rakuten Symphony's ORAN and Cloudportfolio to deliver 5G Standalone sites as part of a project that will represent Kuwait's first Open RAN deployment of its kind. The MoU was signed at Rakuten Symphony's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, by Daaij Al-Oud, Chief Technology Officer at Zain Kuwait, and Sharad Sriwastawa, President of Rakuten Symphony, along with executive teams from both partners. The project will be the initial phase for planned large scale commercial deployment of Open RAN in Kuwait and across Zain Group, which operates in eight markets across the Middle East and North Africa region. As part of the project, Rakuten Symphony will supply its innovative Open RAN virtualized Distributed Unit and Centralized Unit software, along with cloud-native virtualized software, as well as ensuring that its Open RAN solution is fully functional and capable of handling commercial traffic. Zain Kuwait will allocate the required cell sites as well as providing data center infrastructure and 5G SAcore with related transport connectivity. Al-Oud and Sriwastawa with Zain and Rakuten Symphony executives in Tokyo. Exchange of commemorative gifts. Daaij Al-Oud said, 'This collaboration with Rakuten Symphony marks a significant step in our journey to transform Kuwait's telecom infrastructure. By piloting the country's first cloud-native Open RAN deployment, we aim to unlock new levels of network agility, efficiency and scalability. This initiative is not just a technological milestone for Zain Kuwait, but a strategic move that aligns with our broader vision of leading digital innovation across the region.' Sharad Sriwastawa said, 'Rakuten Symphony is pleased to support Zain Kuwait in delivering the country's first Open RAN deployment of its kind. By venturing into networks driven by cloud-native, open principles and leveraging Rakuten Symphony's proven portfolio, Zain Kuwait has the potential to realize the benefits of increased operational flexibility and reduced time to market, in turn delivering better performance for customers.' Rakuten Mobile, in collaboration with Rakuten Symphony, will apply the achievements obtained from the 'Research and Development Project of the Enhanced Infrastructures for Post-5G Information and Communication Systems (JPNP20017)', subsidized by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). • Daaij Al-Oud: 'By piloting the country's first cloud-native Open RAN deployment, we aim to unlock new levels of network agility, efficiency and scalability' • Sharad Sriwastawa: 'Leveraging Rakuten Symphony's proven portfolio, Zain aims to boost network agility and accelerate service delivery for an enhanced customer experience'
