Prioritizing Sustainability in MENA: Mapping Critical Environmental Issues for Regional Businesses

Pressure is growing on companies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to accelerate their progress on sustainability. To achieve this will require regional guidelines, materiality assessments and political leadership.

While the region faces considerable climate-related challenges, it is endowed with abundant access to solar and wind energy, a ready supply of capital and a long-term focus among many of its governments. As a result, it is well-placed to leapfrog traditional development phases and integrate sustainability directly into its agenda for economic diversification and growth.

This report, developed with the World Economic Forum’s Leaders for a Sustainable MENA community and Bain & Company, offers a roadmap for companies across the region to elevate their environmental disclosure practices and sustainability performance in alignment with internationally recognized standards, while ensuring that local and sector-specific contexts are adequately represented.