Zain has concluded a group-wide media agency RFP covering five key operating markets: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan and Bahrain, in addition to Zain Group’s central remit, according to industry sources.
The telecom operator is understood to have re-engaged OMD on a new three-year mandate following the review. The estimated annual media budget is believed to be in the range of US$60 million to US$70 million, spanning digital, print and out-of-home channels.
The competitive pitch saw participation from Mindshare (WPP Media), Spark Foundry (Publicis Group) and Jellyfish (an integrated global digital marketing business, reinventing marketing for progressive brands) highlighting the strategic importance of the account within the regional telecoms and media landscape.
Zain is one of the Middle East’s most influential telecommunications groups, operating across multiple markets and serving millions of consumers with mobile, data and digital services. The group has been steadily evolving its brand and marketing approach in recent years, with increased emphasis on digital transformation, youth engagement and purpose-led communications — making media strategy and execution a critical lever for growth and consistency across markets.
Recently, Zain Group achieved the top ‘A’ score in the recently published CDP Climate Change 2025 disclosure cycle, marking a significant milestone in the Group’s climate action journey. CDP is a global non-profit platform that enables organizations to measure, manage, and disclose environment-related data, with scoring designed to recognize robust transparency and credible action toward climate goals.
