Amman, Sept. 9 (Petra) — Zain Group has secured an “AA” rating in
MSCI’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) assessment, placing
the telecommunications group among the leading companies in Gulf
markets for its management of sustainability-related risks and
governance practices.

The upgraded rating reflects Zain’s performance across key areas
including data security, privacy, human capital management,
environmental practices and corporate conduct, according to a
statement issued Wednesday by Zain Jordan.

The group outperformed the telecommunications industry average across
those areas, with the assessment particularly highlighting its data
security practices compared with peers in the telecommunications and
technology sector.

Zain attributed the result to measures including preventive
cybersecurity controls, incident-response mechanisms and
due-diligence requirements for suppliers aimed at ensuring compliance
with data protection and cybersecurity standards.

The assessment also recognized progress in employee engagement and
workplace practices, including initiatives focused on accountability,
ethical conduct, talent development and creating an inclusive working
environment.

Zain Group Vice Chairman and CEO Bader Al-Kharafi said the rating
marked another step in the company’s long-term transformation into a
technology-focused group and reflected the integration of governance
practices across its operations.

He said the result demonstrated the group’s ability to translate its
strategic commitments into measurable outcomes, supported by what he
described as disciplined implementation of its operating strategy.

Zain said it has increasingly integrated ESG considerations into its
operations and decision-making, with corporate governance built
around effective oversight, ethical leadership, transparent
disclosure and risk management.

The group said the approach is intended to strengthen its ability to
anticipate risks while balancing responsible growth with long-term
business performance.

MSCI ESG Ratings measure companies’ exposure to financially relevant
sustainability risks and opportunities and assess how effectively
those issues are managed. Ratings take into account the nature of
each industry and the strength of a company’s governance and
management frameworks.

Zain said it would continue developing its institutional capabilities
and sustainability initiatives as telecommunications and technology
markets evolve, with a focus on responsible growth, competitiveness
and supporting digital transformation across the markets in which it
operates.

//Petra// RZ