Zain strengthens the presence of Kuwaiti Sign Language in partnership with the Deaf Club

Zain Kuwait has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kuwaiti Sports Club for the Deaf, coinciding with International Sign Language Day and International Deafness Awareness Week. This marks a new chapter in Zain’s journey toward enhancing inclusion, accessibility, and effective communication with people with disabilities in Kuwait.

The MoU was signed at Zain’s headquarters in Al-Shuwaikh, in the presence of Waleed Al-Khashti, Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Relations and Institutional Affairs, and Khalid Al-Mutairi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwaiti Sports Club for the Deaf. This partnership establishes a broad framework for collaboration in areas including accessibility, training, awareness, digital services, community engagement, youth initiatives, and professional development for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Kuwait.

This agreement reflects Zain’s approach to translating inclusion principles into tangible experiences that facilitate communication, expand access to services, and empower people with disabilities to participate independently. This initiative aligns with the Zain Group’s WE ABLE 2030 vision and its corporate sustainability strategy, which aims to embed inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities across all aspects of the company’s operations, in line with its purpose-driven strategy.

Commenting on the partnership, Waleed Al-Khashti said: “Sign language is more than just a means of communication; it represents independence, confidence, participation, and the ability to connect with the world around us. This partnership allows us to listen more closely to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community and work together to remove barriers from the experiences that matter to them.”

Al-Khashti added: “At Zain, we believe that inclusion finds its true meaning when it becomes part of how we serve our customers, develop our employees, design our digital experiences, and engage with our community. These are the goals guided by our corporate purpose to deliver ‘Always Connected, Better Life,’ ensuring this connectivity is available to everyone. Through our collaboration with the Kuwaiti Sports Club for the Deaf, we aim to translate this commitment into practical solutions that enhance independence and broaden opportunities and participation.”

Khalid Al-Mutairi, commenting on the partnership, stated: “Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals possess the capabilities, experience, and qualifications to contribute effectively to society and the job market. We look forward to this partnership with Zain and to seeing more such purposeful collaborations with private sector institutions, which will open up broader opportunities for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community to showcase their potential and achieve their aspirations.”

The partnership centers on a wide range of initiatives designed by Zain to provide a more accessible, inclusive, and independent experience for Deaf and hard-of-hearing customers. These initiatives focus on enhancing communication through Zain’s in-store and digital channels, facilitating access to services, raising employee awareness and confidence, and providing practical solutions to remove communication barriers.

Real-time Video Interpretation in Selected Branches

In a first for the Kuwaiti telecommunications sector, Zain is launching the first phase of a real-time video interpretation service for Deaf customers at the Al-Fanar and The Mall of the Gulf branches. This service will connect them directly with certified sign language interpreters from the Kuwaiti Sports Club for the Deaf, who will facilitate immediate communication between customers and Zain staff.

The service enables Deaf customers to complete their branch visits independently, access services, understand offers and contracts, and make informed decisions without the need for a companion to interpret on their behalf.

This initiative grants Deaf customers greater independence, privacy, and confidence when using Zain’s services, while also providing a more accessible and inclusive in-branch experience. It reflects Zain’s ongoing efforts to remove communication barriers and ensure its services are designed to meet the needs of all customers. The service is planned to expand to other branches in the near future.

Digital Library for Kuwaiti Sign Language

Zain is also launching a dedicated digital library for Kuwaiti Sign Language, developed to enhance accessibility to sign language through its in-store and digital channels and to support communication between the Deaf community and those who interact with and serve them.

The library contains over 200 phrases organized across five key areas, covering basics such as Arabic letters, numbers, colors, days, and months, as well as daily communication, workplace environments, customer service interactions, digital products and services, and technical troubleshooting.

Designed as an open resource, the library’s benefits extend beyond Zain. It will support the company’s employees and customer service teams, while also helping the broader community, including professionals in the telecommunications sector, enhance their knowledge of Kuwaiti Sign Language. The initiative aims to enable more inclusive and accessible communication experiences for Zain’s Deaf customers and the Deaf community in Kuwait as a whole.

Employee Training, Social Media Content, Offers, and More

Under this partnership, Zain will also launch training workshops for its employees on Kuwaiti Sign Language, targeting staff in customer-facing roles as well as those in administrative positions, thereby boosting confidence and awareness across the organization.

As part of activities marking International Sign Language Day and International Deafness Awareness Week, Zain will integrate sign language into all video content published on its official social media platforms from September 20 to 24, broadening the scope of accessible communication through its digital channels.

The partnership will also offer exclusive benefits to the community of the Kuwaiti Sports Club for the Deaf. Zain will introduce special offers for more than 370 club members, which will be announced in sign language via the Zain app and social media platforms. This includes a one-month free offer for eligible Zain customers who are club members. The company also plans to host an event at the club’s headquarters to introduce members to the available offers and services.