Mnakh Studies and Research – a research institution specializing in measuring and evaluating sustainability performance highlighted a number of notable achievements included in Zain Group’s 2025 Sustainability Report, titled “Rooted in Our Purpose... Building a Sustainable Future.” The report covers the Group’s operations in 8 markets across the Middle East and Africa, where Zain serves more than 50.9 million customers through a workforce of 8,254 full-time employees. The report demonstrated clear regional leadership in verifying and validating climate data.
Zain continued to cement its position as a company that treats sustainability as a long-term strategic choice, not merely a reporting obligation or an activity parallel to its core operations. This approach was evident in the organizational transformations it implemented over the past year, both in terms of data management and the expansion of environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives across its operations.
Among the most notable steps that marked the past year was Zain’s integration of a centralized platform for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) data management, with the automation of more than 200 indicators across operational processes. The report also revealed Zain’s embedding of integrated thinking principles into its organizational structure, such that decisions are no longer made in isolation across departments but are now based on a comprehensive assessment of financial, social, and environmental impacts.
Climate change
Zain has made significant progress by expanding the use of renewable energy in its operations and improving energy efficiency in its facilities, which has contributed to reducing operational emissions. Scope 3 emissions decreased by 4.15 percent (approximately 20,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide), which is roughly equivalent to removing about 4,520 cars from the roads for a full year, according to a study by Mnakh. On a five-year cumulative basis since the 2020 baseline, the group remains on a positive trajectory with an 11.37 percent reduction in Scopes 1 and 2 emissions.
To counter the increasing pressure from network expansion, Zain deployed a total of 158 solar power systems and 651 hybrid systems in 2025, converted 330 network sites to commercial power and installed 121 high-efficiency DC power systems, contributing to the avoidance of 14,123 tons of carbon dioxide. In a significant achievement, Zain became the first Kuwaiti company to have all its emission scopes (1, 2, 3) verified by an independent auditor.
Environmental footprint
Zain Kuwait continued its 27-year partnership with the Kuwaiti Diving Team, collecting a total of 127,000 kilograms of marine debris in 2025—equivalent to approximately the weight of five standard shipping containers filled with waste removed from Kuwait’s marine environment. In Bahrain, Zain has recycled 40 tons of paper since 2024, which is estimated to have saved approximately 680 mature trees, according to a study by Maqam. As for Zain Jordan, it has continued its gradual phase-out of plastic SIM cards in favor of eSIMs, reducing plastic waste by more than 400 kilograms over five years —Zain Sudan trained 715 young people in 2025 in market-relevant skills including solar energy, electronics, and food processing, bringing the total number of program beneficiaries since its launch to 1,965 young people.
First in the region
In 2025, Zain became the first Kuwaiti company to have all its emission scopes (1, 2, 3) verified by an independent auditor, after expanding the scope of verification to include extended indirect emissions (Scope 3) in addition to what was previously verified.
Responsible operations
Zain expanded its governance scope to cover the entire supply chain, reflecting an advanced understanding of corporate responsibility for indirect impacts. Through supplier self-assessment mechanisms and continuous on-site audits, the group has developed a monitoring system based on tracking and classifying risks according to their severity, with strict corrective measures applied when necessary. This approach has not only improved performance but also helped reduce reputational risks and strengthen ethical commitment.
Governance and gatings
In terms of governance and ratings, Zain received an “A” rating on the MSCI Sustainability Index and had its S&P rating raised to the highest regional level, while its FTSE4Good rating exceeded the industry average. Zain Saudi Arabia was upgraded to an “AA – Leader” rating in the MSCI ESG Index, the highest level of this index. For the fifth consecutive year, the Group received the “Best Corporate Governance Company in Kuwait” award from World Finance and ranked first in the regional telecommunications sector on Forbes’ list of the world’s best employers, in addition to five global awards.
Zain established a corporate compliance management framework across its operations and, in 2025, launched detailed compliance plans aligned with the Board of Directors’ approved policies, under the oversight of the Climate Action Committee, which includes members of the executive management and reports directly to the Board.
Digital inclusion
The group adopted a practical approach targeting groups most vulnerable to digital exclusion, such as the elderly, people with disabilities and women in the technology sector. Regarding work with the elderly, Zain Group focused on empowering them to navigate the digital world through cybersecurity awareness sessions and training programs on the use of digital applications and services. With the significant expansion of the “Women in Technology” program, participation in Kuwait jumped from 7 women to 550 through partnerships with local universities and Box Hill College.
In Iraq, Zain exceeded its original target of 200 participants, training 318 women after receiving over 1,000 applications to join the program. Zain Bahrain was also honored by the Gulf Ministers of Labor Committee for achieving a Bahraini workforce employment rate of 93.33 percent. Group-wide, more than 2,400 women have joined the “Women in Technology” program since its launch, underscoring Zain’s ongoing commitment to empowering women and promoting their participation in the technology sector.
Zain launched the first regional edition of the “Zain Global Initiative” (ZGI) program in five additional markets, receiving over 600 applications, from which 13 startups were selected to join intensive boot camps. Zain Sudan sent 11 mass text messages in partnership with the DARAJA climate emergency service, reaching more than 9 million people in flood-prone areas, and Zain South Sudan renewed its partnership with the Whitaker Initiative for Peace and Development, and launched a health clinic in the Wunrok area aimed at serving 10,000 people.
Empowering the Youth
Zain has made significant investments in developing youth skills through advanced training programs in programming and modern technologies, providing thousands of young people with the opportunity to acquire skills that prepare them for the future job market. These efforts have also extended to markets facing greater challenges, where hundreds of participants were trained in basic digital skills.
Zain has adopted a comprehensive approach that combines skills building, user protection, and the promotion of education. In the area of child safety online, the Group supported child helplines and helped increase their usage rates, while continuing to strengthen its commitment to children’s rights across its various operations and initiatives. The Zain Group received a score of 8.5/10 on the 2025 Global Child Rights and Business Index, ranking 12th within the telecommunications sector and 46th across all sectors, outperforming the sector average of 6.5 and the regional average of 3.4.
Zain continued to strengthen its efforts in digital safety and online child protection by developing its capabilities to detect and prevent child sexual exploitation material in six markets, in collaboration with Project Arachnid and the Internet Watch Foundation. The Group also supported child helplines in partnership with Child Helpline International, conducting awareness sessions in Saudi Arabia that benefited 443 children, and promoted the Jordan River Foundation’s helpline in Jordan through an awareness campaign that reached over 127,000 people, in addition to organizing awareness sessions at six schools in Kuwait in collaboration with the National Child Protection Program, with the aim of raising awareness of digital safety and children’s rights and expanding access to protection and support services.
Disclosure framework
According to Mnakh Studies and Research, Zain Group’s 2025 Sustainability Report reflects clear maturity in its disclosure framework and climate assurance, solidifying the Group’s position as a regional benchmark in the telecommunications sector through its leadership in addressing the three scopes, its upgraded international ratings, and the adoption of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for Zain’s emission reduction goals. The report represents a turning point between the concluded five-year sustainability plan and the Group’s new strategy, which links growth to purpose and social and environmental value.
