Zain Group has recorded a brand valuation of USD 4.039 billion in 2026, a 16.1 per cent increase on the USD 3.479 billion recorded a year earlier and the highest figure in the Kuwait-headquartered operator’s history, according to the Brand Finance Telecoms 150 ranking.
Brand Finance awarded Zain a Brand Strength Index score of 83.3 out of 100 with an AAA- rating, placing the group 25th among the strongest telecom brands globally. The ranking reflects performance across financial delivery, network investment, digital innovation and customer engagement metrics.
The valuation gain tracks a year of concrete operational movement. Zain increased its capital expenditure by 40 per cent in 2025 to reach USD 1.5 billion, directing investment toward network infrastructure and technology platforms across its eight-market footprint. The group also reported its highest revenues in 16 years, while continuing to expand its growth verticals including fintech arm Zain Fintech, enterprise technology unit ZainTECH, and digital lifestyle platform ZOI.
Zain holds 5G leadership across four of its markets, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Bahrain. Kuwait has been among the first markets globally to launch 5G-Advanced services, a distinction the group has positioned as evidence of a direct link between infrastructure investment and brand value creation.
“Our continued rise in brand value reflects the passion, creativity and strategic investment that have shaped a bold and progressive identity,” said Bader Al-Kharafi, Zain Vice Chairman and Group CEO. The group serves 50.9 million customers across its markets.
The result positions Zain ahead of regional rival Ooredoo, which operates across nine markets including Qatar, Kuwait and several African and Asian territories, in brand strength rankings, though the two groups pursue increasingly distinct strategic trajectories as both accelerate their transitions from pure connectivity providers toward diversified digital services operators.
