Zain Saudi Arabia and the Development Bank: A strategic partnership to support entrepreneurs
In a move that strengthens the integration of the private sector with development financing entities, Zain Saudi Arabia announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with the Social Development Bank. This announcement was made during the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Work Styles Forum (DeveG0), held under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, from December 21 to 23, 2025, at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh.
This landmark agreement aims to create a supportive and enabling environment for entrepreneurs and owners of small and micro enterprises, as well as enhance their active contribution to the gross domestic product. This step reaffirms Zain Saudi Arabia’s firm commitment to its social responsibility and its support for national initiatives that contribute to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly with regard to developing the third sector (the non-profit sector) and empowering productive segments of society to achieve financial independence and economic growth.
The partnership between the two parties includes launching a package of joint initiatives aimed at supporting productive families and aspiring entrepreneurs. Among the most prominent of these initiatives is the “Yamam Café” project, which represents an innovative model of support by providing dedicated spaces within Zain's headquarters for productive families. This contributes to creating added social value within the corporate work environment and supports the sustainability of small economic activities by integrating them into the larger corporate ecosystem. This partnership also seeks to create a vibrant and dynamic work environment that enhances the daily employee experience and directly connects them to initiatives with a tangible social impact.
Commenting on the occasion, Ms. Luluah bint Saad Al-Nuwaisser, Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Zain Saudi Arabia, stated: “Our partnership with the Social Development Bank reflects Zain Saudi Arabia’s approach to building an integrated work system that transcends its traditional role to become a platform for economic and social empowerment, combining individual empowerment with the development of Saudi society. We view the work environment as an engine for development, not merely an operational framework. Through joint initiatives such as supporting productive families within our premises, we are solidifying our role in empowering small businesses and redefining the role of human resources in creating shared value for employees and society, thereby generating an economic and social impact that aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and reflects our commitment to enhancing the employee experience and supporting the local economy.”.
It is worth noting that this partnership comes within a broader economic context in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where the Social Development Bank plays a pivotal role as a key government pillar in empowering citizens and driving economic and social development through the provision of targeted financing products, non-financial services, and savings programs. Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is a cornerstone of Vision 2030, which aims to increase the sector's contribution to GDP to 35%, making such partnerships between the private sector (represented by Zain Saudi Arabia) and the development sector essential for accelerating growth.
The (DeveG0) forum also gains special importance as it is a platform that brings together decision-makers and entrepreneurs to anticipate the future of modern work patterns, making the signing of this agreement during it a strong message about the importance of joining forces to adopt flexible and sustainable work models that support the national economy and create new job opportunities for young men and women in various fields.
