Is Motivation for Sustainability Reporting Dwindling in 2025? A UAE & GCC Perspective

In 2025, a lot of businesses are quietly asking the same thing:
“Is sustainability reporting still worth it, or is the motivation fading?”

The short answer: no, it’s not fading. In fact, the pressure to report is actually getting stronger.
What’s really changing is how companies report and why they do it.
The world is shifting from glossy PR to serious sustainability report design and copywriting
that is compliant, data-driven and credible.

For companies in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and across the GCC, reporting is becoming even more important.
New laws, stock market rules and investor expectations mean sustainability reporting is now a real business requirement.

1. Reporting Isn’t Slowing Down – It’s Growing Up

Globally, regulations like the EU’s

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

are forcing thousands of companies to publish detailed sustainability disclosures.
Investors want real numbers, not vague claims.

This means:

• Reporting is still motivated — but driven by regulation, risk and investors.
• Clear sustainability report design and copywriting has become essential because people actually use this data.

If you’re starting out, try our guides:

7 Steps to Writing a Sustainability Report

A Guide to Drafting Your First Sustainability Report

2. The UAE Climate Law: Climate Reporting Is Now Mandatory

In 2024, the UAE introduced the

Federal Decree-Law No. (11) of 2024 on the Reduction of Climate Change
,
known as the UAE Climate Law.

This law requires companies operating in the UAE to:

• Measure and monitor their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
• Report these emissions to authorities
• Submit plans for reducing emissions over time

This affects private companies, free zone businesses and more.
To meet these requirements properly, companies need structured, clear reporting — which is where strong
sustainability report design and copywriting becomes essential.

3. ADX & DFM Listed Companies Must File Sustainability Reports

For publicly listed companies in the UAE, sustainability reporting is no longer optional.
According to SCA, ADX and DFM rules, listed companies must:

• Publish an annual sustainability / ESG report
• Submit it within 90 days of year-end or before the AGM
• Align with frameworks recommended by ADX/DFM (often GRI-based)

Skipping the report means missing investor expectations and breaching compliance.
This is why more businesses are turning to professional services:

Sustainability Report Design Services in Dubai
.

4. GCC Countries Are Aligning With Global Standards

Across the Middle East, countries are adopting sustainability frameworks aligned with the

International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)
.

This means:

• Climate-related financial disclosure (similar to IFRS S2) is expanding
• Reports need standardised, decision-useful data
• Investors expect comparable climate and social information

Businesses in the UAE and Saudi that want international investment need strong sustainability reporting built on a proper framework — and designed so people can read it easily.

5. The Tone of Reports Is Changing: Less Hype, More Honesty

Materiality First

Companies are focusing on the issues that matter most — not everything under the sun.
This includes:

• Climate risks and transition planning
• Energy and water use
• Supply chain resilience
• People, safety and welfare

Good sustainability reports present material issues clearly using:

• Materiality matrices
• Simple visualisation of complex metrics
• Clear, honest language (no greenwashing)

Greenhushing Is Growing

Some companies are improving sustainability performance but are more cautious about how they communicate it.
This isn’t a lack of motivation — it’s a shift toward accuracy and accountability.

6. What This Means for UAE & GCC Businesses

Sustainability reporting in 2025 is not fading. It’s becoming:

• More regulated (UAE Climate Law, SCA rules, ISSB alignment)
• More data-driven
• More investor-focused
• More important for long-term business strategy

To meet expectations, companies need:

• Accurate ESG and climate data
• A recognised reporting framework (GRI, ISSB, IFRS S2)
• Professional sustainability report design and copywriting

Explore our portfolio:

Sustainability Report Design & Copywriting Portfolio
.

7. How Sandpaper Helps

Based in Dubai, Sandpaper supports companies across the UAE and Middle East with:

• Sustainability report planning & structure
• Full ESG copywriting aligned with global standards
• Clear, high-quality design and infographics
• Regulatory-compliant reporting

Start here:

Sustainability Report Design Services Dubai
.

References

• Federal Decree-Law No. (11) of 2024 – UAE Climate Law
• PwC – UAE Climate Law Analysis
• S&P Global – Understanding the UAE Climate Law
• ADX & DFM Sustainability Reporting Rules
• ISSB Adoption in the Middle East