Zain Unites Iraq Units

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Beginning today, two Iraqi mobile telecommunications networks - MTC Atheer and Iraqna - change their names to Zain (www.iq.zain.com) as both operators adopt the new corporate master brand of the Zain Group (formerly MTC), the leading mobile telecommunications operator in 22 countries serving 42.5 million customers across the Middle East and Africa.

This re-branding follows MTC Atheer’s recent attainment of a 15 year nationwide license in August 2007, for US$1.25 billion and its parent company Zain acquiring Iraqna on December 1, 2007, for an amount of US$1.2 billion.

Serving over seven million customers, Zain in Iraq becomes the fifth Group operation to be re-branded joining the Group’s other operations in Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain and Sudan that were successfully renamed Zain on September 8, 2007.

Dr Saad Al Barrak, Zain Group Managing Director and Deputy Chairman commented: “In recent years through the provision of essential telecommunication services and extensive community support, both MTC Atheer and Iraqna have played critical roles in the reconstruction of Iraq. Together as Zain, and as one larger operation utilizing the Group’s worldwide resources, we will be even better positioned to serve the people of Iraq. Zain’s unrelenting commitment to the future prosperity of Iraq goes hand-in-hand with our aspirations of being a top-ten global operator.”

Zain Group