Gulf Praise for Zain Kuwait’s Experience in Transforming Community Partnerships into Sustainable Impact

Zain Kuwait has solidified its position as a regional pioneer in sustainability and corporate social responsibility, after receiving a new Gulf award in recognition of its role in transforming long-term community partnerships into sustainable developmental impact. The award was presented during the ceremony honoring leading projects and figures in civil service, labor, and social affairs in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, hosted in the Bahraini capital, Manama.

This high-level regional recognition came on the sidelines of the 12th Meeting of the Ministers of Social Affairs and Development of the GCC countries. The event was attended by Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Jassem Al-Bedawi, Secretary-General of the GCC; Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailan, Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood; Jassem Al-Najim, Kuwait’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain; Walid Al-Kheshati, CEO of Corporate Relations and Institutional Affairs at Zain Kuwait; Walid Al-Fadhil, Captain of the Kuwait Diving Team; alongside ministers of civil service, labor, and social affairs and development from GCC member states, as well as various leaders and officials.

Zain received this award for its project, “Strategic Partnership for the Protection and Rehabilitation of the Marine Environment between Zain Kuwait and the Kuwait Diving Team.” The project was selected among leading social work initiatives in the Gulf private sector, marking a regional acknowledgment of the success of one of the longest-standing community and environmental partnerships in Kuwait and the region.

This selection reflects the value of a partnership model that has, over decades, combined the capabilities of the private sector with specialized environmental volunteer expertise to protect Kuwait’s marine environment and conserve its natural resources. It serves as a practical example of how institutional collaboration can achieve sustainable results that go beyond the immediate impact of traditional initiatives.

This recognition crowns a cooperation journey spanning more than 28 years between Zain and the Kuwait Diving Team. During this period, efforts to protect the marine environment have evolved from scattered field initiatives into an integrated institutional framework that combines specialized volunteer work, community awareness, youth empowerment, and continuous operational and field support.

The Gulf recognition underscores that the role of the private sector is no longer limited to providing support and sponsorship; it has become a key partner in leading sustainable development pathways. This is achieved by leveraging its expertise, institutional capacities, and media and awareness platforms to enhance the growth of specialized initiatives and expand their community and environmental impact.

This achievement embodies Zain’s vision of building long-term strategic partnerships based on sustainability and impact measurement. It is founded on the belief that true investment in society is realized through initiatives capable of driving continuous and sustainable change that positively impacts people, the environment, and future generations.

This award extends Zain’s track record of receiving recognition across GCC countries for its community initiatives. Previously, the company was honored in Doha in 2024 for its annual Ramadan campaign, “Zain Al-Shuhour” (Zain of the Months). The campaign was selected among leading social work projects in the Kuwaiti private sector during the 13th Ceremony Honoring Leading Projects in Social Work, held on the sidelines of the 10th Meeting of the Ministers of Social Affairs and Development of the GCC countries.

Zain treats corporate social responsibility as an integral part of its institutional approach, through sustainable partnerships and initiatives that transcend immediate impact to create long-term value for society and the environment, while supporting national priorities.

National commitment to sustainability and the protection of natural resources, and empowering future generations. The strategic partnership between Zain and the Kuwait Diving Team spans more than 28 years, during which the company supported the team’s operations by providing four fully equipped boats, with the most recent one delivered in 2023. This partnership has contributed to executing hundreds of environmental missions, removing thousands of tons of harmful waste, and protecting tens of thousands of marine organisms.

The team’s year-round operations include installing and maintaining eco-friendly moorings around coral reef areas, monitoring reef health and reporting to relevant authorities, cleaning islands and beaches, retrieving fishing nets, waste, and debris, protecting seabeds and navigation channels from pollution, and documenting Kuwait’s marine environment for scientific and awareness purposes.

The impact of the partnership extends beyond marine operations. Zain leverages its media and digital channels, along with its partner network, to disseminate environmental awareness messages, highlight volunteers’ efforts, and encourage youth participation. It also involves students, young people, and volunteers in field initiatives, thereby reinforcing values of environmental responsibility, teamwork, and sustainability from an early age.

The project also reflects the integration of volunteerism with innovation. Zain has employed technological solutions in its environmental efforts, including the BeBot beach-cleaning robot, which rakes sand, collects buried waste, gathers seaweed, and levels beach areas. Powered by electricity through solar panels, BeBot enhances cleaning efficiency and reduces environmental impact.

These efforts align with Zain’s vision, which links corporate growth to long-term positive impact on society and the environment. Protecting the environment, empowering youth, supporting local partnerships, and reducing the carbon footprint are among its priorities, consistent with the company’s ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and its corporate goal of “Continuous Connectivity. A Better Life.”