UAE tops MENA in ESG integration, Cicero & Bernay report reveals

DUBAI, UAE, 6 November 2025: Cicero & Bernay (C&B), a MENA-based communication advisory firm, announced the release of its MENA ESG Report 2025, a regional study analysing how companies across the Middle East and North Africa are responding to growing expectations surrounding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. Making the announcement through a Press Release, C&B said the UAE continues to set the regional benchmark for ESG practices, with 60% of surveyed companies addressing all three ESG pillars equally.

The findings, the company said, reflect the UAE’s progress in embedding sustainable development practices in line with the UAE Net Zero 2050 and We the UAE 2031 Vision. C&B said that companies in the UAE are increasingly moving beyond compliance to measurable impact, with 71% of enterprises involving employees in ESG initiatives and 67% supporting volunteering programmes aligned with corporate sustainability goals.

Ahmad Itani, Founder and CEO, Cicero & Bernay, said: “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.”

According to C&B, the MENA ESG Report 2025 draws on responses from 361 C-suite and senior executives from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The company added that over the past five years, the report has documented a shift from ad hoc CSR initiatives to ESG as a core part of corporate identity, stakeholder engagement, risk mitigation, and long-term value creation.

C&B said that this year’s findings highlight the growing link between ESG and commercial outcomes. The company added that with 74% of executives reporting that ESG directly influences brand value, marks a shift from viewing ESG as a moral obligation to a source of competitive differentiation.

More than 52% of firms, C&B said, report actively supporting all three ESG pillars in equal measure. Looking ahead, 83% of respondents predict their ESG strategies for next year will prioritise the social pillar, moving beyond earlier environment-focused efforts. C&B added that this evolution reflects growing stakeholder pressure for tangible, evidence-based ESG action.

C&B said that as ESG adoption continues to advance, communication efforts remain inconsistent, with only 32% of executives reporting their organisations share structured updates. The company said with a broader mix of stakeholders involved, clearly and consistently explaining ESG activity is becoming increasingly important.

Tariq Al Sharabi, Managing Director, Cicero & Bernay, said: ““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.”

Now in its fifth edition, C&B said the report is an effort to encourage corporate social responsibility (CSR) and has evolved into a tool for tracking ESG maturity across the region. C&B added that it offers country-specific analysis that charts the shift from philanthropy and sponsorships to data-led, long-term business priorities.

C&B said the findings highlight the need for embedding ESG into every layer of the business strategy and operations and that corporate groups must ensure internal alignment and fluency across departments.