ESG Considerations in the UAE: What Businesses Need to Know

Posted by Written by Lisa Zhang
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ESG has become a strategic necessity for companies in the UAE, driven by national sustainability goals, investor expectations, and evolving regulatory and market frameworks. Businesses that proactively integrate ESG into governance, risk management, and reporting are better positioned to manage risk, access capital, and remain competitive as disclosure and sustainability standards continue to mature.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations have moved from “nice-to-have” to “must-have” for companies operating in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Driven by national sustainability agendas, global investor expectations, and evolving regulatory frameworks, ESG is increasingly integrated into corporate strategy and risk management across sectors, from finance and energy to real estate and logistics. This article provides a practical overview of ESG in the UAE context, including current regulatory and market drivers, key components of ESG frameworks, sectoral trends, implementation challenges, and actionable steps businesses can take to advance their ESG maturity.

Why ESG matters in the UAE

The UAE has made significant policy commitments to sustainability and responsible business conduct. Between Vision 2021, the Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative, and financial sector decarbonization plans, the government has sent clear signals that environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and strong governance are long-term priorities. Several factors explain why ESG has gained prominence:
  • Regulatory evolution: UAE authorities are strengthening disclosure requirements, particularly for listed companies and financial institutions, while encouraging sustainability reporting and climate risk assessments.
  • Investor expectations: Global institutional investors increasingly incorporate ESG criteria into investment decisions, affecting capital flows to the UAE across equity, debt, and project finance markets.
  • Competitive differentiation: ESG performance is becoming a factor in tendering, supply chain relationships, and access to green financing.
  • Risk management: Climate risk, labor practices, and governance gaps are material risks that can affect operational continuity, reputation, and cost of capital.
The market and regulatory context means that companies that merely “comply” with minimum standards may fall behind competitors that proactively integrate ESG into strategy and disclosures.

The current ESG framework in the UAE

Unlike jurisdictions with single, comprehensive ESG statutes, the UAE’s approach is multi-layered, with ESG objectives embedded across sectoral regulations, disclosure frameworks, and market expectations. Key pillars include:

Environmental sustainability policies

The UAE has articulated ambitious sustainability goals, including a commitment to Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. To support this, federal and emirate-level bodies are rolling out frameworks on:
  • Energy efficiency and renewables, such as UAE Cabinet decisions encouraging clean energy investment;
  • Carbon markets and pricing mechanisms, notably through initiatives like the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and Dubai Financial Market sustainability platforms; and
  • Climate risk disclosures, as expected future requirements in financial and non-financial reporting.
These policies indicate that environmental performance metrics, especially around emissions, waste, and resource usage, are likely to become integral to corporate reporting.

Social governance and labor standards

The “S” in ESG covers workforce relations, human rights, diversity and inclusion, and community impact. In the UAE context, this includes considerations such as:
  • Worker welfare and accommodation standards, particularly for migrant workers;
  • Health and safety compliance, aligned with Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization regulations;
  • Anti-discrimination policies and diversity targets, especially for nationalization programs such as Emiratization and local hiring initiatives; and
  • Community investment and stakeholder engagement, increasingly referenced in tender requirements and public-private partnerships.
One notable trend is the growing emphasis on human capital reporting and metrics that investors use to assess the “S” performance of companies.

Governance and anti-corruption

Good governance remains fundamental to ESG. In the UAE, governance considerations include:
  • Board independence and oversight, especially for listed companies subject to Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) rules;
  • Anti-money laundering (AML) and compliance systems under Central Bank and relevant authorities;
  • Risk management frameworks, including enterprise risk management that incorporates climate and social risks; and
  • Transparency and disclosure, with regulators increasingly encouraging or requiring disclosures beyond financial performance, such as sustainability reports.
The UAE does not yet mandate a single, unified ESG disclosure regime akin to EU standards, but various authorities are converging toward greater transparency. For example, the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and financial free zones have issued or signaled requirements for non-financial reporting.

Sectoral trends: finance, energy, real estate and beyond

Financial services
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The UAE’s financial sector is a frontrunner in ESG adoption. Financial centers such as Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) have issued climate risk guidance, sustainable finance taxonomies, and frameworks for green capital markets. Banks and asset managers are increasingly:
  • Integrating ESG criteria into credit assessment and portfolio allocation;
  • Issuing green, social, and sustainability bonds;
  • Aligning with global standards such as the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
In this context, companies seeking finance should be prepared to provide robust ESG data, risk assessments, and transition strategies. Energy and industrial sectors Energy and industrial companies (especially in hydrocarbon-intensive sectors) face rising pressure to decarbonize operations and manage environmental impacts. Carbon management, emissions reporting, and alignment with the UAE’s Net Zero strategy are now strategic imperatives. In practical terms, industrial firms may be expected to:
  • Undertake energy efficiency audits and implement energy-saving projects;
  • Set emissions reduction targets aligned with national frameworks;
  • Report climate-related risks and mitigation plans to lenders or regulators.
Real estate and infrastructure  Real estate and infrastructure sectors are integrating ESG through:
  • Green building standards, such as Estidama in Abu Dhabi and similar sustainability rating systems in other emirates;
  • Sustainable infrastructure financing, where lenders evaluate ESG impacts as part of project due diligence; and
  • Tenant and investor expectations for energy, waste, and water efficiency.
Real estate developers increasingly embed sustainability criteria into project design, certification, and lifecycle cost analyses.

Implementation challenges and opportunities

While the UAE is making steady progress on ESG, businesses face implementation challenges that are both practical and strategic. Data and reporting capability Many companies, especially mid-cap and private firms, lack robust systems to capture ESG data consistently. To address this, businesses may need to invest in:
  • Digital data collection platforms;
  • Integrated reporting tools; and
  • Specialist capacity or advisory support for ESG frameworks.
Alignment with international standards (such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) or TCFD) can improve comparability and investor confidence, but may require incremental capability building. Supply chain management ESG expectations increasingly extend beyond the reporting entity to value chain partners. Companies importing goods, components, or services may be asked to:
  • Demonstrate supplier compliance with environmental and human rights standards;
  • Conduct supplier audits; and
  • Build remediation processes for non-compliance.
This can be challenging when operating across jurisdictions with varying levels of regulation. Regulatory uncertainty  Although progress is steady, the UAE’s ESG regulatory environment is still maturing. Unlike jurisdictions with prescriptive ESG laws, the UAE currently uses a combination of sectoral guidelines, voluntary frameworks, and incentives. Businesses should monitor:
  • Evolving disclosure expectations from financial regulators and capital markets authorities;
  • Sector-specific regulations, particularly for energy and real estate; and
  • International developments that may have extraterritorial effects, such as EU corporate sustainability reporting rules or climate-related financial regulations.
This evolving landscape creates both uncertainty and opportunity—companies that engage proactively can shape emerging norms and gain early mover advantage.

Actionable steps for businesses

To build ESG maturity and align with emerging expectations in the UAE, companies may consider the following practical steps:
  1. Conduct an ESG materiality assessment: Identify which environmental, social, and governance issues are most relevant to the company’s sector, operations, and stakeholders. This provides a foundation for priority actions and targeted reporting.
  2. Develop an ESG policy and governance framework: Establish clear internal accountability, including board or executive oversight of ESG matters, integration into risk management, and linkage to corporate strategy.
  3. Build data and reporting capabilities: Invest in systems to collect, manage, and report ESG metrics consistently. Align data collection with emerging frameworks such as TCFD or GRI.
  4. Engage value chain partners: Extend ESG expectations to suppliers and contractors through contractual clauses, codes of conduct, and training programs.
  5. Align with sectoral initiatives: Participate in industry sustainability initiatives, green finance programs, or local community engagement efforts to build credibility and stakeholder trust.
  6. Monitor regulatory developments: Stay informed on updates from UAE authorities, financial centers (DIFC, ADGM), and global ESG standards bodies to anticipate compliance requirements.

The business case for ESG: beyond compliance

While regulatory compliance is an important driver, the business case for ESG in the UAE extends beyond legal obligations. Companies that embed ESG effectively may benefit from:
  • Improved access to capital at competitive terms;
  • Enhanced reputation with customers, partners, and investors;
  • Lower operational risk through resource efficiency and risk management;
  • Better talent attraction and retention through workplace well-being initiatives; and
  • Increased competitiveness in sustainability-oriented markets.
As global capital increasingly incorporates ESG metrics into allocation decisions, UAE companies that are early adopters of robust ESG practices are positioned to attract wider investor interest.

Conclusion

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ESG considerations are reshaping corporate expectations in the UAE, driven by national sustainability commitments, investor demands, and evolving disclosure norms. While the regulatory environment is still maturing, companies that proactively build ESG capabilities (especially in data management, governance, and supply chain integration) will be better positioned to manage risk, enhance reputation, and capture long-term value. For businesses operating in or entering the UAE market, the imperative is clear: treat ESG not as an optional add-on, but as a strategic priority integral to modern corporate governance and commercial success. Dezan Shira & Associates offers customized ESG advisory across Middle Eastern and Asian markets, helping companies build global ESG strategies with localized execution. We assist clients through the full ESG lifecycle, from strategy design to regulatory compliance and comprehensive reporting, enabling businesses to meet evolving standards while strengthening long-term corporate resilience and stakeholder confidence. To arrange a consultation, please contact China@dezshira.com. 

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