Founded2003
HeadquartersIraq
CEOEmre Gurkan
IndustryTelecommunications

About

Zain Iraq is the Iraqi mobile operator of Kuwait-based Zain Group. It entered the Iraqi market in 2003 as MTC Atheer, was rebranded Zain in 2007 and acquired the network of Iraqna, a former Orascom Telecom subsidiary. Zain Iraq says it launched 3G in 2015, the ZainCash mobile wallet in 2016 after a Central Bank of Iraq licence, and what it calls Iraq's first 4G-LTE service in 2021.

Emre Gurkan was appointed chief executive on 13 May 2024. The executive team on the company site also includes Chief Financial Officer Samer Musleh (since 2015), Chief Commercial Officer Mohammed Samir (since February 2017), Chief Technology Officer Ahmed Abdulsalam (since April 2018) and Chief Human Capital Officer Rasha Barakat (joined March 2019). Wikipedia's Zain Group page gives Zain Iraq 20.4 million customers, without a year and flagged as needing a citation.

Key figures

20.4 millionCustomersUndated, citation needed on Wikipedia
6 named executivesExecutive teamCompany site

Figures are as published by the sources listed on this page. Where a figure comes from the company itself we have not audited it.

Scope of operations

  • Mobile voice, data and 4G services across Iraq
  • ZainCash mobile wallet
  • Connectivity and ICT solutions through Horizon Scope

Founders and key people

Emre Gurkan

Not Verified

Chief Executive Officer, Zain Iraq · Zain Iraq

  • Samer Musleh Chief Financial Officer
  • Mohammed Samir Chief Commercial Officer
  • Ahmed Abdulsalam Chief Technology Officer and Managing Director, Horizon Scope
  • Rasha Barakat Chief Human Capital Officer
  • Haider Sahel Chief Security and Governmental Sales and Relations Officer

Timeline

  1. 2003Enters Iraq as MTC Atheer, part of MTC Group
  2. 2007Rebranded Zain Iraq; mobile licence secured (August)
  3. 2008Completes the Iraqna acquisition, per Zain Iraq (Wikipedia dates the deal to 2007)
  4. 2013Network upgrade
  5. 2015Launches 3G
  6. 2016Launches ZainCash wallet under a Central Bank of Iraq licence
  7. 2021Launches 4G-LTE, which the company calls the first in Iraq
  8. 2024Network upgrade; Emre Gurkan appointed CEO (13 May)