Dubai Chamber Of Commerce Survey Shows Increased ESG Awareness Among Local Businesses

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce has shared insights from its 2025 ESG Pulse Survey. This survey assesses how well the local business community understands and adopts Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards. Conducted by the Centre for Responsible Business, the survey highlights a rising awareness among businesses in Dubai about the significance of ESG practices.

Among the surveyed companies, 72 percent are aware of ESG standards and initiatives. Half of these companies are actively implementing related initiatives. Furthermore, 35 percent of businesses prepare detailed reports on their adopted initiatives. Corporate values and institutional goals are the main drivers for adopting ESG practices, followed by regulatory compliance and corporate reputation.

Large companies lead in implementing ESG initiatives, with 87 percent participation. Multinational corporations follow closely at 83 percent, while small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) lag behind at 46 percent. In terms of industry sectors, professional, scientific, and technical activities top the list with a 55 percent implementation rate.

The insurance, financial services, and real estate sector follows with a 52 percent rate. The transport and storage sector reports a 50 percent implementation rate. These figures indicate varying levels of commitment across different industries in Dubai.

When it comes to environmental sustainability efforts, waste management is prioritized by most companies. Pollution reduction and climate change practices come next, along with sustainable procurement strategies. These initiatives reflect a growing focus on reducing environmental impact within businesses.

Social and Governance Initiatives

For social initiatives, transparency and communication practices are paramount. They are followed by employee relations, customer relations, and community engagement efforts. In governance-related areas, business ethics and compliance take precedence over leadership strategy and risk management.

The survey also highlights that advanced recycling and waste reduction strategies are key components of circular economy approaches among companies. Collaboration with external stakeholders for circular projects is also significant. Additionally, developing sustainable products using recycled materials is gaining traction.

This comprehensive survey underscores the increasing importance of ESG standards among Dubai's businesses. It reveals varied levels of adoption across different sectors while highlighting key areas where companies focus their efforts to enhance sustainability practices.

With inputs from WAM