The UAE Leads MENA In ESG Integration, Cicero & Bernay New Report 2025 Reveals

As the UAE progresses towards its Net Zero 2050 and We the UAE 2031 Vision, businesses are shifting from mere compliance to creating measurable impacts. A new report by Cicero & Bernay (C&B) highlights that 71% of UAE companies engage employees in ESG activities, with 67% supporting volunteering initiatives aligned with corporate sustainability objectives.

Cicero & Bernay (C&B), one of MENA's leading communication advisory firms in the MENA region, has introduced its MENA ESG Report 2025. This regional study explores how companies in the Middle East and North Africa are adapting to increasing demands for enhanced environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance.

The report reveals that the UAE is leading the way in ESG practices within the region. According to C&B's findings, 60% of UAE companies are now addressing all three ESG pillars simultaneously. This underscores the country's commitment to integrating sustainable development across all business levels.

Ahmad Itani, Founder and CEO of C&B, commented on this trend: "We're seeing the conversation turn into action. What stands out in this year's report is how companies are linking ESG to tangible business outcomes. It's proof of real momentum, and that's a positive sign for the region."

The MENA ESG Report 2025 is based on feedback from 361 senior executives across various countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan. Over five years, it has tracked a shift from sporadic CSR efforts to making ESG a core component of corporate identity and long-term value creation.

A key finding this year is the growing connection between ESG initiatives and commercial success. Currently, 74% of executives believe that ESG directly affects brand value. This marks a change from viewing it as merely a moral duty to recognising it as a competitive advantage.

Despite progress in adopting ESG practices, communication remains inconsistent. Only 32% of executives report that their organisations provide structured updates on their ESG activities. As more stakeholders become involved, clear and consistent communication about these efforts is increasingly crucial.

Tariq Al Sharabi, Managing Director of C&B, noted: "This report is designed to help business leaders, communicators, and policymakers uncover meaningful insights and ask sharper questions. For us, it's about offering clarity and supporting a more connected and confident ESG ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa."

Looking ahead, 83% of respondents anticipate prioritising the social pillar in their next year's ESG strategies. This reflects an evolution beyond earlier environmental-focused efforts due to rising stakeholder demands for concrete evidence-based actions.

Now in its fifth edition, the report initially aimed at promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR). It has since evolved into a tool for assessing ESG maturity across the region by providing country-specific analyses that highlight shifts from philanthropy towards data-driven business priorities.

The future requires embedding ESG into every aspect of business operations—from strategic planning to daily workflows. As ESG becomes integral to business language and operations, companies must ensure internal coherence and understanding across departments.