According to recent findings, 94% of companies in the UAE view climate change as a business opportunity, either as an increased focus area or a strategic priority. This reflects a strong confidence in linking sustainability with the creation of long-term value. Moreover, 90% of these companies plan to accelerate their transformation efforts over the next three years, which is 12 percentage points higher than the global average. These insights were gathered from the “Sustainability Pulse” survey conducted by HSBC during the global leaders’ meeting at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
Additionally, the adoption of technology is already underway, with 55% of UAE businesses intending to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure and technology to mitigate climate-related risks. This figure exceeds the global average by 11 percentage points. At the same time, 53% of firms emphasized the necessity for more accessible financing to facilitate the scaling and adoption of these technologies, highlighting the critical role financial institutions play in supporting decarbonization efforts.
The survey also revealed that 89% of companies in the UAE regard the impact of climate transformation on branding and reputation as highly significant. Furthermore, 44% of these businesses noted that declining market competitiveness poses a major risk if they fail to achieve their climate transformation goals, in contrast to the global average of 34%, where loss of investor trust and financing challenges are seen as primary concerns. The report indicates that turning climate transformation plans into reality will require collaboration across the economic ecosystem, including policymakers, businesses, and financial institutions.