DUBAI – At the Care for Sustainability Mena forum, a senior UAE official delivered a stark warning to the private sector: companies treating environmental responsibility as a compliance exercise rather than a core business imperative will not survive in the evolving market landscape. Maher Al Kaabi, Independent Board Member and Advisor to Al Serkal Group and a member of the UAE Circular Economy Council, emphasized that sustainability has transitioned from optional to essential for business continuity.
Speaking during a fireside chat titled ‘The Digital Triad of UAE AI, Circular Economy, and the Future of Capital,’ Al Kaabi criticized superficial sustainability efforts designed merely to meet reporting requirements. “If you are not sustainable in doing business, you will not survive. You will not be able to stay relevant in the market,” he stated unequivocally. He stressed that authentic progress requires integrating sustainable practices into fundamental business models rather than implementing peripheral initiatives.
The two-day forum, hosted at Madinat Jumeirah and organized by Trescon, gathered over 1,000 delegates including government representatives, global investors, and decision-makers from more than 200 investment firms. The event serves as a major regional platform for advancing climate action and clean energy innovation across the Middle East and North Africa.
Al Kaabi outlined the UAE’s methodical approach to policy development, emphasizing collaboration with private sector partners to ensure competitive stability. “We do not want to make policies where we say that tomorrow you must do this, otherwise it will fail,” he explained, highlighting the government’s focus on awareness campaigns and incentives before regulatory measures. He cited the phased implementation of plastic bag charges as a successful example of this strategy.
The official also emphasized the foundational role of household education in driving environmental change. “Behaviors children learn at home shape how they see consumption and waste,” he noted, pointing to updated school curricula that now incorporate environmental responsibility.
Revealing the UAE’s long-standing commitment to circular economy principles, Al Kaabi noted that foundational work began as early as the 1990s, demonstrating leadership foresight in green growth long before it gained global prominence. He concluded that consumer demand, particularly from younger generations seeking sustainable options across all product categories, is creating undeniable market pressure for genuine business transformation.