Zain Group's ESG Double Materiality Assessment, Powered by Datamaran
Zain Group becomes the first mobile operator in the MEA region to complete a double materiality assessment, cutting assessment time by 75%.
Results
We have a great relationship with the Datamaran team. It's more of a partnership than a vendor-client relationship. Datamaran not only gives us the platform, but also the insights, the best practices, and the support we need, from stakeholder inclusivity to external assurance. It has transformed how we approach materiality and stakeholder engagement.
Overview
Zain Group is a leading ICT and digital lifestyle communications provider operating across eight markets in the Middle East and Africa. Zain published its first sustainability report in 2011 and has aligned with GRI, SASB, TCFD, CDP, and the UN SDGs ever since. To move beyond manual materiality assessments, Zain adopted Datamaran — becoming the first mobile operator in the MEA region to complete a double materiality assessment.
Challenges
Materiality assessments took three to four months, built on handwritten stakeholder feedback, phone calls, and social media outreach. Segmenting stakeholder input and expanding sample sizes was difficult, the team often responded to emerging topics late, and with no regional reporting requirement to lean on, Zain relied on international best practice to maintain its leadership position.
Solution
Datamaran replaced manual work with real-time, automated materiality analysis, enabling quarterly assessment refreshes. The platform tracks competitor disclosures and regional regulation for proactive adaptation, and Datamaran's client success team worked directly with external auditors to smooth the assurance process. Surveys translated into Arabic expanded engagement to suppliers, employees, and underrepresented customer groups.
Impact
Materiality assessments dropped from months to weeks — a 75% time saving that freed capacity to act on findings. Zain now engages a broader stakeholder base, including employees, suppliers, and regulators, with more accuracy in reflecting their perspectives. Insight from the platform drove new KPIs, including data privacy measures for vulnerable customer groups, and quarterly refreshes keep the board aligned with evolving priorities.
Results
- First mobile operator in the MEA region to implement a double materiality assessment
- 75% time saving on materiality assessments
- Stronger data privacy governance through targeted KPIs
- More frequent, higher-quality board-level ESG reporting
Looking Ahead
With regional regulation expected in 2026, Zain continues to deepen its use of Datamaran and extend proactive monitoring of emerging ESG topics — building on the view that leadership in sustainability is about commitment, not compliance.
