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Zain Group corporate website (www.zain.com) ranks no.1 in the telecom industry across the MENA region

Zain also crowned as Best Website in Kuwait

Second consecutive year company ranks first in Telecom Industry and Kuwait

Company beats the top 138 companies in the region as ranked by 400 international business journalists, analysts and investors based on a protocol of 140 criteria

Dubai, 6 December 2011: Zain , the leading mobile network operator in the Middle East, ranked highest in two categories in the 3rd "Middle East Webranking" survey of the largest 138 leading companies by market capitalization in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The survey was conducted by King Worldwide Digital (KWD), the leading online corporate communications agency that specializes in such rankings across the globe.

For the second consecutive year, www.zain.com was awarded the Best Corporate Website in the Telecom Industry across the MENA region and the Best Website in Kuwait, where the company was founded and where it is listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange.

The sites of those shortlisted were assessed according to 140 criteria, laid down in KWD's annual survey of over 400 international business journalists, analysts and investors, to identify what information and functionality they most value from a listed company's corporate website. Also taken into serious consideration was to what level the company had embraced social media to promote its cause and engage customers.

Zain Group 's CEO, Mr Nabeel Bin Salamah said that the recognition was yet another demonstration, not only of the impact the Zain brand has made over the past four years, but also in the way it has captured the public, media and investor community's imagination. "The Zain brand is a permanent fixture in the MENA corporate landscape. As this region enters a new and exciting phase, in its development, it is pioneering brands like Zain that will continue to set the standard in the region's economic diversification and online presence."

He added, "At Zain , we take the issue of corporate governance and transparency extremely seriously. Our investor relations online disclosure policy is both thorough and user friendly, offering visitors a wide array of viewing options including an award-winning and dynamic, digital Annual Report."

Staffan Lindgren, Senior Partner of KWD International said that the number of international investors eyeing up Gulf opportunities is increasing by the day and online communication is an area that regional companies cannot ignore. " Zain has gone the extra mile," he said. "As a telecom company that is one of the largest publically listed companies in Kuwait, it has demonstrated that it understands the importance of a strong online presence for the media, analyst and investor community as a key aspect of any successful investor relations strategy. It also has recognized the necessity of social media in catering for all ages in today's increasingly online era with dynamic and appealing Facebook, Twitter and YouTube content."

The winners of the KWD Webranking Survey were announced last Monday at a seminar entitled "Success in Digital Investor Relations" which was held in the Armani Hotel Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The event, which is supported by the Middle East Investor Relations Society (MEIRS), is dedicated to promoting excellence for investor relations standards across the region.

The criteria and how companies are evaluated: The KWD Webranking protocol consists of 140 criteria divided into 10 sections, for a maximum score of 100 points. The most heavily weighted section is the financial information making up 30% of the final score.

2011 KWD Webranking protocol by section:

1. Home page

2. About Us

3. Press

4. Financial Reporting

5. Investor Relations

6. Corporate Governance

7. Corporate Social Responsibility

8. Career Section

9. Social Media & Search

10. Functions

-Ends-

About Zain
Zain is a leading telecommunications operator across the Middle East providing mobile voice and data services to over 41.4 million active customers as of 30 September 2011. With a commercial presence in 7 countries, Zain operates in the following countries: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and is currently rolling out its network in South Sudan. In Lebanon, the company manages 'mtc-touch' on behalf of the government. In Morocco, Zain has a 15.5% stake in Wana Telecom, now branded 'INWI', through a joint venture. Zain is listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (stock ticker: ZAIN). For more, please email info@zain.com or visit: www.zain.com

www.facebook.com/zain

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© Press Release 2011