KEY MILESTONES
-
1983
Established Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) in Kuwait
-
2003
Acquired Fastlink in Jordan
Awarded 2nd GSM license in Bahrain
Awarded GSM license in Iraq
-
2004
Awarded management agreement in Lebanon
-
2005
Acquired Celtel in 13 African nations
Acquired Madacom in Madagascar
-
2006
Acquired the remaining 61% of Mobitel in Sudan
Acquired 65% of V-mobile in Nigeria
-
2007
Won bid for 3rd GSM license in KSA
Rebranded to Zain in 4 markets
Acquired a 15-year nationwide license in Iraq
Acquired 75% of Westel Ghana
Acquired Iraqna in Iraq
-
2008
Merged MTC Atheer and Iraqna, and rebranded to Zain
Rebranded from Celtel to Zain in all African operations
Commenced operations in KSA
Commenced operations in Ghana
-
2009
Invested in 15.5% of Moroccan operator Inwi
-
2010
Sold mobile operations in 15 African countries (excluding Sudan and Morocco) to Bharti Airtel for $10.7 billion
-
2011
Separated operations between Sudan and South Sudan
-
2012
Zain KSA raised $1.6 billion in rights issue and Group increased stake in the operation to 37%
Increased stake in Zain Iraq to 76%
-
2013
Zain celebrates its 30th Anniversary
-
2014
Listed Zain Bahrain on Bahrain Bourse
-
2015
Listed Zain Iraq on Iraq Stock Exchange
-
2016
Zain Sudan launched 4G LTE high speed technology
Zain KSA mobile operating license extended for additional 15 years
Zain KSA granted Unification telecommunication license
-
2017
Zain sells 425.7m treasury shares representing 9.84% of its capital to Omantel for $846.1m
-
2018
Zain Saudi Arabia becomes a subsidiary of Zain Group due to step-up acquisition in Q3-2018