Zain Saudi Arabia CEO Sultan Al-Deghaither Leaves Lasting Legacy

Eng. Sultan Al-Deghaither, the CEO of Zain Saudi Arabia, passed away on Monday, leaving behind a profound impact on the telecommunications sector and the digital economy. Serving as CEO for six years, Al-Deghaither led a financial and operational transformation at Zain, eliminating over $532.6 million in accumulated losses and tripling the company’s market capitalization.

Al-Deghaither was instrumental in spearheading numerous projects that established Zain as the largest telecommunications company in the Kingdom. He played a crucial role in developing and expanding the company’s networks. Under his leadership, Zain Saudi Arabia launched the largest fifth-generation (5G) network in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa in 2019, making it the fourth-largest 5G network in the world.

He set a strategic vision for Zain’s business sector, which saw significant growth driven by investments in innovative technologies and digital solutions. These included advancements in cloud computing, future 5G applications, the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and drones.

Al-Deghaither successfully transformed Zain Saudi Arabia, from a traditional telecommunications company into an integrated digital services provider. This transformation laid the groundwork for the emergence and growth of various new technology sectors within the Kingdom. Additionally, his expertise extended to the fintech sector, where he served as the managing director of Tamam Finance Co. Ltd, contributing to its success.

Under his leadership, Zain Saudi Arabia made strides in sustainability. In a notable achievement last year, the company signed an agreement with the Sharek Program Center in the presence of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to establish hyperscale data centers. Zain also launched the world’s first carbon-free 5G network at the Six Senses Southern Dunes desert resort in the Red Sea destination.

Al-Deghaither’s contributions were recognized globally, as he was ranked among the top 300 CEOs in the telecommunications sector by MENA TRNDS. He held a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications and electrical engineering from King Saud University and an advanced management program degree from IESE Business School in Spain.

His visionary leadership and contributions to the digital economy and telecommunications will be remembered as a driving force behind Zain Saudi Arabia’s success and the broader technological advancements in the region.

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