C&B team takes a look at ESG in 2025 and how the region is well-positioned to lead.
Over the last decade,
MENA organisations have quietly built one of the world’s most active ESG ecosystems. A remarkable transformation that remains largely unseen by the outside world. For those ready to bridge the communication gap, it’s an opportunity.
Myth: “ESG in MENA is still early stage”
Fact: “8 years (average) of ESG Maturity.”
Myth: “The companies lack measurement rigour.”
Fact: “99 per cent actively track impact.”
Myth: “Reporting standards are variable.”
Fact: “45 per cent report monthly, outpacing the quarterly international benchmark.”
The big picture
52%
of MENA organisations commit to all three ESG pillars equally.
61%
of firms embracing employee-led initiatives report faster implementation.
78%
of consumers globally will abandon brands lacking positive impact proof.
Levels of ESG maturity
Level 1
Ad-hoc initiatives
Level 2
Basic reporting
Level 3
Multi-pillar commitment
(52 per cent of all three ESGs)
Level 4
Comprehensive measurement
– 99 per cent tracking
– Monthly reporting
Level 5
Transparency and leadership
– Market recognition
– Premium valuations
Brands doing it right
Maaden
– Won two 2025 Gulf Sustainability Awards
– Leading ESG in mining via circular economy and forward-thinking waste management
– Supports Saudi vision of minerals as economic ‘third pillar’
BEEAH
– The Sharjah Waste to Energy plant diverts 90 per cent of landfill waste
– 300, 000 tonnes processed annually, generating 30MV of low-carbon electricity
– 450,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions offset annually
Bottom line
With solid ESG structures in place in 2025, MENA is well-positioned to lead.
When businesses share their achievements well, they elevate both their own brands and the region’s international image.
