UAE residents show positive attitudes towards ESG and energy transition
A majority of residents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) view the energy transition positively and over 80% think it is important for the government and big businesses to transition to renewables and show a commitment to sustainability.
These largely positive attitudes towards sustainability were revealed in a report from SEC Newgate, which surveyed over 1,000 residents of the UAE. The survey aims to track global community sentiment towards how corporates and governments are acting on ESG and how their actions are shaping community perceptions.
The survey found three quarters of UAE respondents were already aware of the term ESG and 86% expressed interest in the topic when it was explained to them. That makes sense, because respondents expressed overwhelming support for clean energy and environmental sustainability.
Positive about energy transition
The UAE has long been positioning its economy to move away from an over-reliance on the oil and gas industry. A major component of that plan is the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to triple the nation’s contribution of renewable energy by 2030. In recent years, other industries like tourism, finance, and real estate have really taken the spotlight in the Emirates.
Now, an overwhelming majority of UAE residents see the energy transition positively. A total of 90% said they felt either “very positive” or “somewhat positive” about the transition to a greener system.
More than half of respondents said that they believe companies should be prioritizing reductions in carbon emissions and 70% said they believe carbon emissions would be prioritized over profitability. Furthermore, more than 8 in 10 believe it is important to transition to renewables and act on climate change, and the community feels more positive towards businesses that embrace renewables and sustainability.
Businesses emphasizing climate
When it comes to action from the private sector, many respondents also believe that large businesses are doing well in emphasizing environmental actions. 71% said they believe large businesses are speaking publicly about environmental issues and 68% believe they have been outspoken on reducing carbon emissions.
Beyond mandatory regulations, UAE companies are actively aligning their operations with the UAE Net Zero 2050 strategy by making multi-billion dollar investments in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and carbon-capture technologies. Many organizations are also integrating sustainable finance frameworks and voluntary international standards to improve their transparency and gain access to the growing pool of green capital and sustainability-linked loans.
Major UAE carriers like Etihad and Emirates are modernizing their fleets with aircraft certified for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and pioneering local biofuel production. Simultaneously, logistics giants such as DP World and Aramex are slashing operational emissions by electrifying port infrastructure and delivery fleets, while leveraging AI for real-time route optimization to minimize fuel waste.
Dependence on foreign workers
When it comes to localization versus globalization, UAE respondents were quite critical of globalization, except in the case that localization strategies have an impact on costs for consumers. For example, 53% said they believe there is too much dependence on foreign workers in the UAE
Foreign workers, primarily hailing from South Asia and the Philippines, constitute approximately 89% of the UAE’s 11.8 million residents, creating a unique demographic where expatriate talent and labor underpin nearly every economic sector.
The government has begun to address this outsized role of foreign workers by accelerating localization through the Nafis program, which mandates that private sector firms reach a 10% Emirati employment target for skilled roles by the end of 2026 to better integrate national talent into the diverse workforce.
Overall, the NEC Newgate survey shows that UAE residents are relatively receptive to ESG initiatives and believe the government and the private sector are largely on the right course. A majority of the respondents also believe that large companies are doing well in terms of governance and stakeholder accountability in issues like governance responsibilities, AI, transparency, and ethics.
