Bader Al-Kharafi: Zain is leading the transformation towards an innovative and responsible future with a sustainable and flexible system.

Kuwait – Zain Group announced its upgrade to the MSCI ESG Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Index rating, confirming it at “ A ” level.

The leading technology innovation group in the Middle East and Africa markets revealed that this achievement highlights its unwavering commitment to strengthening governance frameworks, adhering to the highest standards of transparency, adopting international best practices for disclosure, proactively responding to regulatory requirements, and enhancing its resilience to risks.

The group stated that it has recently increasingly focused its efforts on building a sustainable and resilient ecosystem to continue leading the transition to a future that combines technological innovation with corporate responsibility, focusing on accountability, transparency, and ethical practices. It noted that these efforts consolidate its position in the ICT sector as a leader in creating sustainable value.

Zain stated that the latest ranking also highlighted its efforts to enhance data security and privacy initiatives and keep pace with developments and updates related to regulations and laws in the State of Kuwait. The group continued to launch numerous initiatives and control measures to protect data and manage risks, as evidenced by the recent ISO certifications obtained by many of its operations.

The group emphasized its focus on strengthening its corporate governance structure, clarifying responsibilities, and developing oversight mechanisms for the board of directors. This promotion also highlighted Zain's commitment to ethical integrity and responsible corporate behavior by applying the highest ethical standards in all environmental, social, and corporate governance practices, and its continued enhancement of employee management practices through leadership training programs and enhanced employee engagement .

It explained that it achieved advanced results in the environmental-focused classifications, achieving the highest environmental performance scores (10/10) while continuing to make further progress in zero-emissions reduction initiatives across all its operations in the region’s markets.

Zain Group Vice Chairman and CEO Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi said, "Zain's upgrade to the MSCI ESG Index reflects the group's unwavering commitment to building a robust corporate governance framework based on transparency, ethical integrity, and compliance with the highest international standards."

Al-Kharafi added, "By strengthening our oversight and monitoring mechanisms, we have succeeded in fostering a supportive operating environment that drives sustainable growth and creates long-term value for all stakeholders. We believe that integrating environmental, social, and corporate governance criteria into the core of our business strategy is a fundamental pillar for achieving leadership."

He stated, "Adopting these standards not only enhances risk management, but also provides a comprehensive vision of objectives that enable us to face future challenges with confidence and flexibility. Within the framework of our new strategy ( WARD 4 - Advancement with Purpose), we have placed these objectives at the core of our operations, with a focus on achieving a sustainable positive impact."

Al-Kharafi continued, "We aim to build a collaborative culture that fosters innovation and expands strategic partnerships to achieve integration and shared impact, especially in light of the rapid advancements in technology and artificial intelligence, where responsible governance is needed to address the challenges associated with these developments."

Al-Kharafi emphasized that Zain Group is committed to leading this transformation by developing an advanced digital infrastructure and harnessing artificial intelligence and technological innovations in an ethical and sustainable manner. To this end, the group is working to launch pioneering initiatives that support responsible development, while ensuring business continuity and protecting communities.

It's worth noting that Zain Group continues to advance its MSCI ESG Index ranking, affirming its position as a driving force for sustainability and responsible governance. This latest achievement highlights its commitment to compliance with emerging environmental, social, and governance ( ESG) standards across its operating markets, while demonstrating a high level of transparency in its reporting, which aligns with the highest international standards.

Zain has achieved significant milestones in combating climate change, strengthening governance systems, implementing effective environmental policies, and significantly improving data protection and privacy. Despite geopolitical challenges in some of its operating areas, Zain has demonstrated its resilience through innovative initiatives that have reinforced its commitment to continuous improvement, cementing its leadership in building a sustainable and prosperous future for its communities .

In today's fast-paced business landscape, Zain Group continues to cement its position as a leader in embracing governance and sustainability. Among its most notable achievements is its remarkable progress on the MSCI ESG Global Index, particularly in the data protection and privacy pillar. This reflects its deep commitment to building a corporate culture grounded in accurate analysis and reliable data-driven decision-making.

Recognizing that data governance is no longer an option, but rather a regulatory necessity, Zain launched the " ZAIN DATA OFFICE " to provide a foundation for ensuring information quality and enhancing compliance with personal data protection legislation and cloud computing frameworks. This office constitutes an advanced defensive shield to protect sensitive data from threats and breaches, and enhances the group's ability to adapt to restrictions imposed on the storage, transmission, and use of information .

Zain continues to support global environmental initiatives, joining efforts to combat climate change and consistently adopting sustainable, nature-based solutions to remain at the forefront of organizations leading the environmental transformation in the Middle East and Africa markets. Regarding labor rights, Zain has strengthened its commitment by incorporating human rights principles into its human resources policies and codes of conduct, with a focus on issues of discrimination and employee treatment, particularly in areas that require high sensitivity to these issues within the corporate value chain .

Zain's sustainability policies reflect its comprehensive vision for building a more just and prosperous future, emphasizing its commitment to establishing strategic partnerships that contribute to driving economic growth and achieving sustainable community development.

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