Zain Named Top Telecom Employer in MENA on Forbes’ 2025 List
This globally recognized ranking evaluates 900 organizations from over 50 countries, based on detailed feedback from more than 300,000 employees regarding satisfaction, career opportunities, and overall reputation.
Zain, a leading ICT and digital communications provider operating in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa, has been ranked as the number one telecommunications company in the MENA region on Forbes’ annual “World’s Best Employers” list for 2025. The company also secured the first-place ranking in Kuwait and placed among the top-three employers regionwide across all sectors. This globally recognized ranking evaluates 900 organizations from over 50 countries, based on detailed feedback from more than 300,000 employees regarding satisfaction, career opportunities, and overall reputation.
This workforce recognition coincides with Zain’s recent upgrade to an ‘A’ rating from Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) as of September 2025, highlighting its commitment to sustainable practices. Zain’s success is anchored in its “4WARD-Progress with Purpose” five-year corporate strategy, which emphasizes meaningful impact and responsibility. The company is aligning its Human Resources, ESG, and Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (ID&E) programs with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to create positive ESG impacts and foster a thriving, diverse, and inclusive workplace.
To drive its strategic goals, Zain has implemented several pioneering initiatives. It created the Chief Purpose Human Resources Officer (CPHRO) role to integrate the company’s purpose with employee purpose, fostering human centricity and innovation. Furthermore, the company launched ‘UNITY,’ a culture transformation program that embeds Purpose and Customer Centricity into its operations. Strategic HR programs include the innovative “WE SUCCEED” model for organizational agility, the regional-first “IDE Score” index for measuring workplace inclusion, and the “BE WELL” mental health strategy. Zain also focuses on women’s empowerment through programs like “WE” and “NOVA” and has set a target to raise the proportion of women in leadership positions to 25%. Its “WE ABLE” program ensures an accessible environment for people with disabilities, reinforced by international collaborations with The Valuable 500 and the International Labor Organization (ILO).
Zain is actively building a future-ready workforce through platforms like “ZAINIAC,” its proprietary innovation platform that encourages employee idea generation. The “Generation Z” initiative equips graduates with essential leadership and digital skills. In partnership with Spain’s IE University, Zain established the Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity University (IDEU), offering over 2,000 employees opportunities to pursue digital competencies and higher academic qualifications. These efforts demonstrate Zain’s core belief that empowered talent and an inclusive culture are vital to its business growth and its commitment to a sustainable, digitally connected future.
