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ShareKUWAIT: Football fans in Kuwait are eagerly tuning in for an action-packed new season of the Zain Premier League (Dawri Zain). The 63rd edition of the topflight competition officially kicked off last Thursday, with Zain continuing its support for the third consecutive year in strategic partnership with the Kuwait Football Association (KFA).
Zain is the Official Sponsor of the KFA’s competitions for the 2022-2026 seasons, including the two most thrilling local football leagues: the Zain Premier League (Dawri Zain), won by Kuwait SC last season, and the Zain First Division League, won by Yarmouk SC last season. Under this partnership with the KFA, Zain also extends its support to the most cherished cup of them all: HH the Amir Cup, won by Qadisiya SC last season, along with HH the Crown Prince’s Cup.
Biggest prize pool
This season, Zain continues to deliver on its promise to support athletes, players, and fans with cash prizes, dedicating the biggest prize pool in the local league’s history with a total of over KD 60,000 per season. With this contribution, the company strives to recognize exceptional athletes and motivate them to excel, providing fans with top-tier performances. The 2024-2025 season’s prizes from Zain include: Player of the Season (KD 10,000), Best Player in the Round: (KD 500 per round), Season’s Top Pro Scorer (KD 5,000), and Season’s Top Local Scorer (KD 5,000).
The prizes also include Season’s Best Goalkeeper (KD 5,000), Season’s Best Coach (KD 3,000), Season’s Rising Star (KD 2,000), and Best Photo of Season (KD 1,000). For the Zain First Division League, the company presents a Best Player in the Round prize (KD 200 per round). The Kuwait Football Association recently formed a special committee to oversee and outline the criteria on which the prize winners will be selected. The committee is membered by former players, coaches and experts: Thamer Enad (committee head), Jamal Mubarak, Faisal Bourguba, Waleed Ali and Mubarak Al Wugayan.
Enhanced broadcasting with SHASHA Sports
SHASHA Sports, the league’s exclusive broadcaster, continues this season to provide an exceptional broadcasting experience for Dawri Zain. SHASHA uses the latest streaming technologies to air matches and analysis studios throughout the season via its digital platforms, available on a wide range of smart devices. This brings new experiences for fans to enjoy the day to day action and writes a new chapter for Kuwaiti sports media.
In its debut season (2023-2024) as the exclusive broadcaster of Dawri Zain, SHASHA achieved record viewership, with a total of 7.3 million views by the penultimate round. The two most exciting matches between Qadisiya SC and Arabi SC were the most watched, attracting nearly 1.5 million views. Committed to delivering high-quality experiences, SHASHA Sports has brought in European specialists for match coverage and production, ensuring world-class broadcasting. The platform also features extensive match analysis with local pundits and experts like Musaad Al Fouzan, enriching the viewing experience for fans across Kuwait and the GCC.
At the end of every season, Zain holds a prestigious Excellence Awards ceremony to recognize top athletes. The league’s very best players are awarded on stage for their top performance after winning the affection of thousands of fans throughout the season. Last season, Zain presented its Excellence Awards to Mohammed Daham (Player of the Season), Bader Al Mutawa, Yousef Nasser, and Mohammed Daham (co-winners of Season’s Top Local Scorer), Hamza Khaba (Season’s Top Pro Scorer), Saud Al Houshan (Season’s Best Goalkeeper), Nabeel Maloul (Season’s Best Coach), and Muath Al Osaima (Season’s Rising Star). These awards underscore Zain’s commitment to supporting distinguished athletes. By recognizing top performers, the company aspires to encourage players to pursue excellence, promising an even more thrilling season for fans to enjoy.
Thrilling season ahead
Dawri Zain’s previous season was highly competitive, with a total of 132 thrilling matches played and 400 goals scored. Building on this excitement, the new season features 10 top-tier clubs that will compete for the championship title: Kuwait SC (led by Nebojsa Jovovi), Qadisiya SC (led by Mohammed Al Meshan), Yarmouk SC (led by Goran Matkovic), Tadamon SC (led by Joao Mota), Khaitan SC (led by Florin Motroc), Fahahil SC (led by Firas Al Khateeb), Arabi SC (led by Nasser Al Shatti), Kazima SC (led by Mohammed Duhailees), Salmiya SC (led by Ante Mise) and Nasser SC (led by Dhaher Al Adwani).
Additionally, 5 teams compete in the Zain First Division League: Sulaibikhat SC, Shabab SC, Sahel SC, Jahra SC, and Burgan SC. Zain wishes all clubs participating in the Zain Premier and First Division Leagues all the best of luck and looks forward to an exciting, action-packed season.
Private sector’s role
Zain firmly believes that the private sector has a key role in contributing to the success and growth of the local sports sector. The company makes this belief a reality by supporting the biggest nationwide sports competitions like this one. This partnership with Kuwait’s topflight football competition reflects Zain’s leading role in supporting the local sports sector. The company’s comprehensive corporate social responsibility strategy aims to support local athletes across disciplines to empower them to shine in the biggest local, regional, and international sporting arenas.
