Vodafone signs deal with Zain to expand Middle East presence

British mobile phone giant Vodafone has signed an agreement with Kuwaiti telecom company Zain to expand its footprint in the Middle East region, the pair announced on Monday.

"Vodafone Group and Zain Group today jointly announce a partner market agreement that will significantly expand Vodafone's partner market presence in the Middle East and provide Zain customers with greater support in Vodafone's global footprint," they said in a statement.

"Under the non-equity partnership agreement, Vodafone will work with Zain companies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Iraq to provide customers with high quality communications services.

"The move will enhance both Zain and Vodafone's ability to meet growing demand among multinational businesses for sophisticated voice and data communications solutions as well as advanced roaming services within the Middle East."

Vodafone added that the deal would complement its own regional operations in Egypt and Qatar, and increase the number of countries in which it has partner market agreements to more than 50.