As the global business world pivots toward sustainable governance, the rules of the game have fundamentally changed. In the MENA region, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks aren’t just a nice-to have anymore; they’re the bedrock of doing business.
The new MENA ESG Report 2025 confirms this shift. Developed by the leading communication advisory Cicero & Bernay (C&B), the report polled more than 360 C-suite executives across key MENA markets, and found that ESG has stopped being a peripheral initiative and has become a core business driver.
The strategic inflection point for ESG
The data reveals a powerful transformation. ESG is no longer being treated as a brand add-on or simply something to pad the annual report. Instead, it’s now woven deeply into the operational DNA of major organisations.
Executives in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other MENA countries are actively steering their companies toward measurable engagement. It’s not just about future-proofing their business; it’s staying competitive in markets that are becoming hyper-aware of impact.
Sectors such as finance, construction, energy, real estate, and healthcare are leading this charge, reconsidering how they create value. This change is being pushed by both regulatory developments and loud stakeholder demand, an immediate need for differentiation, and rapidly evolving consumer expectations across the region.
A region-wide commitment
What makes this particular report stand out is its commitment to geographic breadth and rigour. Unlike earlier studies that might have focused too heavily on one dominant market, this edition ensures parity across countries.
Crucially, the report shows that a significant number of firms are already moving well beyond surface-level ESG discussions. Respondents highlighted exploration of cross-departmental implementation, supply chain cross analysis, and major investment into dedicated ESG initiatives that contribute to the wider corporate strategic objectives.
Far from being isolated corporate moves, these actions coalesce to form an ecosystem-wide response, driven by the pressure of new competitive demands.
Embed or fall behind
The message from the MENA ESG Report 2025 is pretty clear: ESG is a competitive imperative right here in the Middle East.
For companies across the region, the future winners will be those who’ve stopped asking if ESG matters and instead focused on how well it’s embedded into everything they do.
