31/03/2026
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31/03/2026
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· Bader Al-Kharafi: “4WARD strategy propelling the business and brand to new heights”
· Brand Finance ranks Zain among the top 25 strongest telecom brands globally with an AAA- rating and Brand Strength Index score of 83.3/100
KUWAIT CITY, Mar 31: Zain Group, a leading provider of innovative ICT and digital lifestyle communications (TechCo) operating in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa, has seen its brand valuation increase by 16.1% in 2026 to reach a record-high USD 4.039 billion. This marks the highest brand value in the company’s history and a year-on-year increase of US$560 million from US$3.479 billion in 2025, reinforcing Zain’s standing among the world’s leading telecom brands.
In the Brand Finance Telecoms 150 ranking for 2026, Zain attained a Brand Strength Index score of 83.3 out of 100 with an AAA- brand strength rating and was named the 25th strongest telecom brand globally, reflecting the strength of its regional footprint and the continued momentum of its evolution into a TechCo.
The record valuation is supported by a year of strong operational and financial delivery across the business. In 2025, Zain recorded its highest revenues in 16 years, significantly increased its CAPEX investment (a 40% increase to total USD 1.5 billion) in network and technology infrastructure, and continued to strengthen the contribution of its growth verticals, including Fintech, ZainTECH, and ZOI. At the same time, the Group maintained regional leadership in 5G across four markets, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Bahrain, with Kuwait among the first globally to launch 5G-Advanced services, reinforcing the direct link between strategic investment, innovation leadership, and brand value creation.
Bader Al-Kharafi, Zain Vice Chairman and Group CEO said: “As one of the region’s most admired and recognizable brands, this milestone reaffirms Zain’s four decades of leadership in mobile and ICT innovation. Nearly two decades after the launch of the Zain brand in September 2007, our continued rise in brand value reflects the passion, creativity and strategic investment that have shaped a bold and progressive identity built on compelling customer experiences.”
He continued: “Our ‘4WARD-Progress with Purpose’ corporate strategy, anchored in innovation and digital transformation, has inspired a multitude of award-winning campaigns and industry-leading initiatives across Sustainability, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity. These efforts have fostered deep trust and affinity among our customers and employees alike.”
“Our ranking as the number one telecom company and among the top three employers across the MENA region on Forbes’ annual World’s Best Employers list for 2025 reflects our commitment to building a thriving, diverse and inclusive workplace comprised of 8,000 talents.”
Mr Al-Kharafi concluded: “Today, Zain connects and empowers 50.9 million customers across its eight markets and engages over 35.5 million followers on social media. The 4 billion views and 1.5 billion interactions achieved during 2025 reaffirm the strength of our advertising and marketing investments, positioning Zain as one of the region’s most loved brands.”
This milestone brand valuation reflects the cumulative impact of Zain’s ‘4WARD-Progress with Purpose’ strategy in translating performance into brand value across multiple dimensions of the business and across all markets operating under the Zain brand. 4WARD is accelerating the Group’s evolution into a purpose-driven, customer-centric, and future-ready regional TechCo. Built around the four strategic forces of Customer Delight, Digital Zain, Purpose and Action, and Collaborative Growth, the strategy is helping translate business performance, brand strength, and long-term relevance into measurable value across the Group’s footprint.
The Brand Finance valuation takes into account a broad range of factors, including financial performance, market capitalization, investor relations, governance and sustainability progress, network investment and quality, digital innovation, venture-building activity, brand health, customer engagement, advertising effectiveness, social media performance, talent and inclusion initiatives, and the continued growth of the Group’s diversified digital ecosystem.
The achievement also highlights the contribution of Zain’s strategic growth platforms and affiliated businesses, including fintech, ICT, digital infrastructure, enterprise solutions, digital lifestyle services, and innovation-led ventures operating across the Group. Together, these efforts continue to strengthen Zain’s market relevance, expand its engagement across customer segments, and reinforce its evolution into a purpose-driven TechCo.
Looking ahead, Zain will continue to build on the early momentum of 4WARD by scaling digital infrastructure, expanding AI-driven and enterprise solutions, advancing fintech and digital lifestyle services, and further strengthening the consistency and appeal of the Zain brand across markets. Backed by disciplined execution, purpose-led engagement, and a diversified digital ecosystem, the Group remains focused on creating sustainable value for shareholders, deepening customer trust, and enabling digital progress across the region.
