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An infographic titled "ESG Becomes Mandatory" contrasting the UAE's old and new ESG models. The left side shows a small section for the pre-2025 marketing-led "Old Model." The dominant right side features an Emirati corporate boardroom under the "New Mandatory Model (Governance)," highlighting a digital dashboard with emissions tracking, data audit trails, risk registers, and a "30 May 2026 Deadline" marker. Four key shifts are listed at the bottom: board ownership, new C-suite roles, financial-grade data, and risk register integration.

ESG Becomes Mandatory: How UAE Companies Are Redefining Governance Models

ESG Just Stopped Being a Marketing Story For about a decade, ESG in the UAE meant the same thing in most boardrooms. A glossy annual report. A few photos of solar panels. A community engagement page. Maybe a paragraph from the Chairman about sustainability values. The Marketing department wrote it. The board signed it. Everyone moved on. That era ended on 30 May 2025. That's when Federal Decree-Law No. 11 of 2024, the UAE Climate Law, came into force. Full compliance is due 3

Directors' Institute

May 267 min read

A modern cityscape with skyscrapers displaying digital ESG data, interconnected government buildings, and business hubs with glowing data streams. Green rooftops, solar panels, and wind turbines symbolize sustainability, blending nature with corporate innovation.

Evolving Regulatory Landscape: Governments worldwide are introducing regulations to enhance corporate transparency on ESG matters.

The global spotlight on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance is intensifying as governments around the world place...

Directors' Institute

Mar 25, 202511 min read