- Belonging to the Zain University of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (IDEU), the academy will act as a strategic enabler of stronger governance, alignment and sustainable growth
- The 'Association for People Excellence' with GSMA Advance provides an accreditation pathway for regulatory and political talent across Zain Group, establishing a benchmark for excellence across the industry
Kuwait, April 28, 2026 : Zain Group, a leading ICT and digital lifestyle provider in eight markets in the Middle East and Africa, has entered into a historic 'People Excellence Partnership' with GSMA previewthe learning and skills branch of the GSMA. This collaboration marks the launch of the 'Zain Regulatory Academy'an industry-first initiative framed by Zain's Inclusion, Diversity and Equity University (IDEU), which provides accredited training to develop world-class expertise among regulatory and policy professionals across the group.
The Academy provides Zain's policy, regulatory, law and compliance professionals with access to GSMA Advance's globally recognized 'Best Practice in Public Policy and Regulatory Impact' accreditation. This structured program combines self-paced online modules, expert-led seminars, practical assignments and tailored regional content on critical topics such as spectrum management, 5G evolution, IoT, mobile privacy, cybersecurity, competition policy and digital-age fintech, and more.
As part of IDEU, the Academy advances Zain's strategic priorities of strengthening governance, fostering market alignment, building a sustainable talent pipeline, and positioning regulatory leaders as industry thought leaders. It equips Zain teams to navigate complex regulatory landscapes shaped by 5G, AI, cloud, IoT and data-driven models, ensuring robust compliance, advocacy and contributions to digital ecosystems.
Dr. Andrew Arowojolu, Chief Regulatory Officer, Zain Groupsaying: “The Zain Regulatory Academy extends our people-focused investment to a Highly specialized capability area that is becoming increasingly central to the future sustainability of our industry.. As operating environments evolve, this learning initiative strengthens governance, alignment and sustainable growth through capacity development our teams with globally informed experience, practical regulatory knowledge and trust to shape conversations that define sectors that support the economic visions of the nations we serve.”
Dr. Drew MacFarlane, Director of GSMA Advanceadded: “We are delighted to welcome Zain Group as a GSMA Advance People Excellence partner. This collaboration reflects a clear commitment to investing in people as a driver of organizational success. By supporting its regulatory and policy professionals through a structured and globally recognized accreditation, Zain not only strengthens its internal expertise but also sets a benchmark of excellence across the industry..”
He continued: “As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve alongside new technologies and business models, organizations must ensure their teams are equipped not only with knowledge, but also with industry-validated and recognized capabilities. This partnership is a clear example of how leading operators are taking proactive steps to build those capabilities at scale..”
The Academy is based on Zain's flagship IDEU platform with Spain's IE University. Since 2023, IDEU has engaged 2,000 employees with digital transformation programs (including master's pathways), achieving a 92% course pass rate, more than 800 active master's students, more than 10,000 certificates and more than 100,000 training hours.
-ENDS-
About the GSMA
The GSMA is a global organization that unifies the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver critical innovation for positive business environments and social change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organizations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA offers its members three broad pillars: connectivity for good, industry services and solutions, and outreach. This activity includes policy advocacy; address today's biggest social challenges; underpin the technology and interoperability that make mobile devices work; and provide the world's largest platform to bring together the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.
Media contact
GSMA Press Office
press [email protected]
