The Middle East is investing in a sustainable transformation, with initiatives underway to advance the harnessing of clean energy sources, innovations in waste management, water conservation, green architecture, and cultivating food sovereignty through smart and sustainable agricultural projects. The financial sector is playing a pivotal role in the region’s sustainability drive as banks and financial institutions promote accessibility through navigating sustainable finance, green bonds, and green sukuks. Even oil and gas companies are playing a central role in investing in alternative renewable energy sources. All those strategies are bringing the region closer to its goals of economic diversification in an economy traditionally dependent on fossil fuels.

Saudi Arabia is taking up a notable role in reaching global climate targets. It established its Sustainable Development Steering Committee in September 2021 and, in the same year, launched the Saudi Green Initiative to offset emissions and facilitate the country’s energy transition. It introduced the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) to increase regional cooperation in mitigating climate change impact. In November 2022, Saudi Arabia allocated $2.5 billion to support MGI projects and governance.

Meanwhile, the U.A.E. announced 2023 as the “Year of Sustainability,” in which there has been an intensive focus on raising sustainability awareness. In 2022, ADNOC, the TAQA Group, and Mubadala partnered to become shareholders in renewable energy company Masdar to create a worldleading portfolio in clean energy. The U.A.E. today has three of the world’s largest solar plants, including the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world. By 2030, the country aims to increase its renewable energy capacity to 19.8 GW.

Our Sustainable 100 includes 44 companies from the U.A.E., 22 from Saudi Arabia, 10 from Qatar, and 12 global companies with 11 regional offices in the U.A.E. Five entries are from Egypt, three are from Kuwait, and two each are from Bahrain and Oman.

We also highlight 10 leaders in government in the Middle East who are using their influence to create positive change.