Zain secures ESG rating upgrade with strong governance and sustainability focus

Zain Group has achieved a major milestone with its MSCI ESG rating upgraded from ‘BBB’ to ‘A’, reflecting its strengthened corporate governance frameworks, enhanced data protection, and commitment to climate goals. The move underscores Zain’s ability to align innovation with responsibility across its eight Middle East and African markets.

The Group has embedded ESG principles into its “4WARD-Progress with Purpose” strategy, strengthening transparency, accountability and ethical leadership. Zain’s governance reforms include refined board oversight and expanded internal controls, while its “ZAIN DATA OFFICE” has been established to ensure compliance with tightening data privacy and cloud regulations.

On the environmental front, Zain achieved a perfect 10/10 score, underlining its progress towards net zero emissions by 2050. This sits alongside its adoption of sustainable, nature-based solutions and climate-conscious initiatives across operations. Equally, labour management has advanced through employee engagement programmes, anti-discrimination policies and executive training schemes.

Vice Chairman and Group CEO Bader Al-Kharafi described the MSCI recognition as “a reaffirmation of Zain’s success in building a resilient, sustainable and data-powered ecosystem grounded in transparency and global standards.” He emphasised the Group’s ambition to lead regional transformation in AI, digital infrastructure and responsible innovation.

Zain’s MSCI upgrade confirms its standing as a catalyst for sustainable growth in a challenging landscape. By integrating ESG into its core business strategy, Zain is shaping a governance model designed for resilience, risk management, and long-term value creation.

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