Those that refocus their business model strategically to embed ESG and sustainable finance sooner rather than later will find themselves much better equipped — not just to capitalise on, but to drive forward a trend that is not only irreversible but unstoppable
sustainable finance
Banking & Finance
Dubai sets up task force to drive green finance ambitions
Dubai Financial Services Authority has launched the Task Force on Sustainable Finance
GHD
How the GCC is booming with investment opportunities
Region is developing rapidly with green hydrogen and community-focused projects leading the way in investments, said David Kinniburgh, regional general manager, GHD
environmental social and governance
Why ‘green’ finance will increasingly play a key role in GCC real estate investments
Senior Mashreq Bank exec says asset managers and fund allocators are increasingly prioritising companies that are ESG-focused
First Abu Dhabi Bank
UAE’s biggest bank prices $218m green bond as it embraces sustainable finance
First Abu Dhabi Bank says it has financed over $10bn so far in sustainable projects
ESG investing
GCC banks must act now to capture ESG opportunities
Merely reporting on ESG is not enough. GCC banks must move to embed ESG as part of their business strategy and create the necessary structural changes in their operating models to pursue these new strategies
Green finance
Saudi Arabia partners with HSBC to push green finance deals
Ministry of Investment signs memorandum of understanding with banking giant HSBC to promote sustainable finance in the kingdom
Bahrain banking
GIB becomes first Bahrain bank to close sustainability-linked loan
Gulf International Bank says deal was well received in the international markets and substantially over-subscribed
green deposits
First Saudi bank makes green deposit as demand for sustainable finance grows
Saudi British Bank says it has deposited funds with HSBC in the UAE which will be used to finance green initiatives
ESG investing
Etihad Airways raises $1.2bn in landmark sustainability loan
Sustainability-linked loan represents the largest sustainable financing in the Abu Dhabi-based carrier’s history
economic diversification
Looking beyond hydrocarbons and towards sustainable prosperity for the Middle East
Economic disruption caused by Covid-19, together with recent volatility in oil prices, has only reinforced the stark need for meaningful action
business activities
Middle East companies already feeling heat from climate change
Latest report from HSBC reveals 97 percent of issuers in the region said they had increased the attention that they pay to environmental and social issues over the past year
financial institutions
How social responsibility is driving Islamic banking in Middle East, globally
Islamic banking is one of the fastest-growing financial industries, with total assets in excess of $2 trillion, which is expected to reach $3.8trn by 2023, says sector expert
ESG investing
Dubai retail giant Majid Al Futtaim signs $1.5bn sustainability-linked loan
Company’s agreement also includes a gender diversity target for women to constitute 30 percent of board members and senior management roles
ESG investing
Saudi’s PIF and London mayor pledge ESG finance action
The two nations are committed to sustainable partnership ahead of Cop26, experts said
Emerging Markets
Building resilience: Sustainable financing in emerging markets
The next decade presents a ‘use it or lose it’ moment for emerging markets to reorient the financial sector towards building a more sustainable and resilient future
Eco-friendly
Greenwashing not an issue in Middle East ESG investment scene
Recent research from Quilter revealed investments not being what they claim to be was identified by 44 percent of investors as being their biggest worry when it came to ESG investing