This report highlights the company’s development and growth journey and its impact on socio-economic development across its markets. Zain as an organization has a strong commitment towards the community it operates in, working diligently to provide the products and services that are valuable, address the expectations of its stakeholders and promote growth and development, in alignment to the needs and demands of its communities both from a business and societal perspective.
From being a telecom operator in a single market, to expanding to various countries around the Middle East and North region, the company was exposed to different cultures, innovative solutions, and market insights. In addition, through the rapid advancement of technology, Zain recognized the power its services had on transforming societies as access to connectivity became the gateway for basic rights.
Established in 1983 using first generation (1G) analog cellular technology to deploying 5G technologies in 2019, the company went through rapid transitions that have changed the course of how people interact in their daily lives. The impact of telecommunications services opened unprecedented opportunities for other industries, including advancing the fintech space to support the banking sector and address the unbanked, digitalization of the industrial sector, deliver sustainable and better user experience, and lastly advancing policy and spectrum outcomes to drive innovation and reduce inequality. Such areas demonstrate how access to communications is necessary for building developed societies that can grow and prosper.
Emphasizing on the report’s theme, Zain is committed to its responsibility to promote a fair and inclusive work culture with the human rights principles acting as a guide to ensure that best practices are upheld. In doing so, Zain identified various salient human rights issues pertaining to its business operations and supply chain and is consistently updating its policy agenda to keep up with local, national, and international standards. Compliance with these standards is of great importance to Zain and as such various internal stakeholders of the organization are tasked with assessing, tracking, and reporting progress associated with significant human rights issues. Zain’s adherence to the principles of human rights is meant to guarantee its pledge to provide a safe and equitable work environment for its employees and contractors, overall welfare to the communities it serves, and to abide by the laws and regulations of relevant national and international institutions. Zain is determined to operate transparently in its operations to ensure that its commitments to the fundamental values of human rights are consistently reached, while keeping in mind the need to consistently adapt and improve as circumstances change through time.
Zain will continue to cooperate with various stakeholders internally and externally to vigilantly identify and resolve salient human rights issues as they are made apparent. The company’s role in this endeavor will be a major priority throughout all its operations, subsidiaries and across its supply chain.