Zain Group Delivers 16-Year Revenue Highs, Cementing Its Role as MENA’s Digital Powerhouse

Zain Group’s  third-quarter and nine-month results for 2025 mark one of the strongest performances in the company’s history, with record-breaking revenue, solid profitability, and a renewed commitment to sustainable digital transformation across the Middle East and Africa.

Serving 51.3 million active customers, up 9% year-on-year, Zain has successfully executed its 4WARD business strategy — one that continues to blend financial discipline, innovation, and an expanding digital ecosystem.

A Record Year in the Making

For the first nine months of 2025, Zain delivered a 16-year high in consolidated revenue of KD 1.7 billion (USD 5.4 billion) — a robust 15% increase YoY. EBITDA climbed to KD 552 million (USD 1.8 billion), representing a margin of 33%, while net income jumped 31% to KD 178 million (USD 581 million).

Earnings per share reached 41 fils (USD 0.13) — an exceptional figure that underpins the Group’s decision to issue a second interim cash dividend of 25 fils per share for profits up to September 30, 2025. The payout, due November 19, follows an earlier 10 fils distribution in September, reflecting Zain’s “high liquidity and financial strength.”

“The disciplined execution of our business strategy, continued growth in core sectors, and expansion into new areas have placed the Group on a leading path that enhances competitiveness and establishes a new phase of financial and operational excellence,” the company stated.

Strategic Growth, Powered by Digital and Fintech

Zain’s transformation beyond traditional telecoms is paying off. The Group’s fintech, enterprise, and digital services are delivering some of the most impressive growth rates in the regional sector.

Fintech revenues — anchored by Tamam in Saudi Arabia and Zain Cash in Iraq and Jordan — grew 57% YoY, while enterprise solutions, driven by ZainTECH, recorded 74% YoY revenue growth. The Group’s international connectivity arm, Zain Omantel International (ZOI), delivered a staggering 172% revenue increase.

Zain invested USD 699 million in CAPEX during the first nine months, focusing on 5G, AI-driven operations, and network modernization across its eight markets. Data services remain a key pillar, growing 11% YoY to USD 2 billion, now contributing 37% of total Group revenue.

Chairman Osamah Al Furaih praised the Group’s ability to sustain growth despite macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds.

“Our operations have shown great resilience to grow market share despite many competitive and socio-economic challenges,” Al Furaih said. “The Board remains focused on supporting management in executing key business strategies and ESG practices on the back of vast investments in technologies, digital infrastructure, and customer experience initiatives.”

–Osamah Al Furaih, Chairman, Zain Group 

Vice-Chairman and Group CEO Bader Al-Kharafi highlighted the transformative power of Zain’s 4WARD strategy, underpinned by AI and automation. He also underscored Zain’s growing global reputation, pointing to its #1 ranking in Forbes’ ‘World’s Best Employers’ list in the regional telecom sector, and Kuwait’s Guinness World Record for the farthest intercontinental remote robotic surgery — a milestone powered by Zain’s advanced connectivity.

“Diligent implementation of the 4WARD strategy and AI initiatives is accelerating rollout of digital services, operational efficiencies, and revenue growth across all aspects of the business. Our efforts have resulted in Zain recording 16-year revenue highs for both the three-month and nine-month periods. This achievement is not only a world record, but a serious step toward a thriving digital future in which we harness technology to serve people. It reflects the purpose we have embraced at Zain — to deliver lasting connections and better lives.”

– Bader Al-Kharafi, Vice-Chairman and Group CEO, Zain Group 

Regional Performance Snapshot

Across Zain’s footprint, nearly every market registered double-digit growth or record operational recovery.

• Kuwait, the Group’s flagship market, saw revenues up 5% and net income of KD 60 million (USD 196 million) for 9M 2025.

• Zain KSA posted a 6% YoY rise in Q3 revenue to USD 733 million, with 5G services now covering 90 cities and driving 40% of total revenues.

• Zain Iraq continued to impress with 9M revenue of USD 942 million, up 18%, maintaining its market leadership with over 20 million customers.

• Zain Sudan, despite political and infrastructural challenges, achieved a 147% surge in Q3 revenue, restoring over 650 network sites and expanding its base to 12.2 million users.

• Jordan and Bahrain also posted steady growth, supported by expanding 5G and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks.

Sustainability, Governance, and a Culture of Excellence

Zain’s upgraded MSCI ESG rating to ‘A’ and its fifth consecutive “Best Corporate Governance in Kuwait” award reflect its ongoing evolution as a responsible, future-facing corporation.

Beyond financials, the Group’s Zain Great Idea (ZGI) 2025 Accelerator Program has expanded across six countries — Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE — amplifying Zain’s role as a regional innovation catalyst.

Zain Group’s 2025 trajectory underscores a clear truth — the company is no longer merely a telecom operator but a digitally diversified powerhouse shaping the future of connectivity in the MENA region.

With strong fundamentals, expanding verticals, and disciplined governance, Zain’s success story this year reaffirms the company’s resilience and leadership. The 4WARD strategy, backed by smart investments in AI, fintech, and enterprise solutions, is proving not just sustainable but transformational — setting new benchmarks for what a regional operator can achieve.