Saudi Telecom Leader Zain KSA Awarded for Inclusive Workforce and Digital Skills Programs

Zain KSA  has been honored with the Connected World KSA Award in the Next-Gen Talent & Inclusion category at the Connected World KSA 2025 conference in Riyadh, recognizing the company’s leadership in nurturing national talent and promoting workplace inclusion. The award highlights Zain KSA’s alignment with Saudi Vision 2030’s Human Capability Development Program, emphasizing youth empowerment, female participation, and equal access to opportunities across the community.

The company has made significant strides in workforce diversity and talent development. Women now make up 20% of Zain KSA’s workforce, with 44% holding executive leadership roles, following the hiring of 560 female employees between 2017 and 2024. Zain KSA has also trained 960 of its 1,500 employees, including 150 women in specialized development programs, and employs 23 persons with disabilities. Initiatives also target seniors and children through tailored digital-skills programs, reinforcing the company’s commitment to a sustainable talent ecosystem that supports digital transformation and social inclusion.

Zain KSA extends its impact beyond the workplace through nationwide educational programs. In 2024, over 140,000 young people benefited from the Wad program, 150 female university students received practical training through the Women in Tech initiative, more than 170,000 graduates participated in the Evolve on-the-job training program, and over 29,000 youth gained critical digital skills.

The company has received multiple recognitions for its efforts, including the Labor Award for job localization and the Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award for the Middle East and North Africa from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), underscoring its role in developing national capabilities and fostering an inclusive, future-ready workforce.