From Hesitation to Visibility: Zain Group Advances Disability Dialogue Across Borders

---

To mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Zain Group, in partnership with PurpleSpace, hosted its first-ever disability inclusion roundtable, bringing together colleagues with disabilities and HR professionals from across Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Oman.

This regional gathering marked a strategic step toward breaking the disability silence in the workplace and building a culture where disability is normalized and lived narrative is valued. The roundtable aimed to embed inclusion into Zain’s daily operations, not through occasional campaigns, but through continuous and intentional dialogue.

Discussions offered a range of valuable insights, from strengthening support systems for people with disabilities to identifying ways to improve future roundtables and storytelling efforts. One powerful story came from a colleague who is deaf, reflecting on a moment from his university years. As he approached a professor to request a sign language interpreter, he was surprised to learn that the professor was blind. The encounter shifted his perspective, highlighting not only the heights he could aspire to, but also how disability, in its many forms, can unite us through shared human experience in unexpected ways. Stories like this encouraged other attendees to open up and share their own experiences, creating a powerful sense of connection.

By fostering this open, cross-functional dialogue, Zain reaffirmed that accessibility must not be treated as a one-off initiative. It is a long-term, organization-wide commitment, anchored in shared responsibility, consistent action, and the belief that disability inclusion is integral to a fair and equitable workplace.

This roundtable represents a turning point for the region; moving from isolated efforts to integrated culture, and from passive awareness to proactive inclusion, across borders, teams, and leadership levels.