Sustainability consultancy EMG launches office in Saudi Arabia

Netherlands-headquartered sustainability consultancy EMG Group has opened a new office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The local operation will support organisations with embracing the sustainability pillar of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

EMG was established in 2004 in the Netherlands, and has since grown into a global sustainability consultancy supporting clients from hubs in Amsterdam, London, Hong Kong, Dubai, Kuala Lampur, Beijing, and now Riyadh. The firm also provides services from its businesses in Cambridge, England, where a dedicated research centre develops solutions for governments, corporates and the NGO sector across the globe.

The consulting firm specialises in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) agendas, taking these considerations beyond the accounting sphere into the domain of strategy and management. Specific services range from help with ESG reporting standards to building sustainable supply chains.

“In addition to EMG’s general services, the country office in Riyadh will provide tailored services that respond to the specific needs of its clients in the Kingdom through global expertise and local competencies that are well-versed in the services provided and which have a deep understanding of Vision 2030, its strategic programs, and economic development in the Kingdom,” said the firm in a statement.

Vision 2030 is a strategic policy framework laid out by the Saudi government that plans to diversify the country’s economy to reduce reliance on oil, while also enhancing public sector infrastructure in health, education, recreation and tourism. As it embarks on this plan for the future, building sustainably is a key opportunity for the country.

EMG Group is looking to be part of this journey, leveraging a combination of its expertise in ESG fields and its previous experience using Islamic ideology as a driver of sustainable practices. The firm established the Islamic Reporting Initiative (IRI) in 2015, which was set up to “create the world’s first international reporting standard for corporate social responsibility based on Islamic values.” Today, the IRI has members in over 50 markets across the globe.

Leading the new wing is Nael Samir Fayez – a certified Chief Sustainability Officer who has been associated with EMG’s head office for more than half a decade. A Saudi national, Fayez is a management and economics expert, and will look to leverage his experience to drive EMG’s success in Riyadh.