As the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries push forward with unified ESG reporting frameworks and bold sustainable finance commitments, global attention turns to how the region is aligning with — and influencing — international standards. In this exclusive interview, Nadia Humphreys, Head of Sustainable Finance Data Solutions at Bloomberg LP, discusses the evolving global disclosure landscape, the GCC’s pragmatic approach to ESG, the rise of blue finance, and the region’s growing role as a credible, innovative player in the sustainable finance ecosystem.
1. The GCC countries are aligning their ESG frameworks with GCC unified reporting despite major hurdles globally such as Omnibus and the US measures. How do you position today’s ESG global disclosure framework vs the GCC? How can we learn from other regions positively and constructively?
The global sustainability disclosure landscape remains in flux. While over 30 jurisdictions have committed to adopting ISSB standards, several major markets such as the U.S. and the EU are recalibrating their approaches. However, it’s clear from the interactions we’re having with asset managers and credit institutions that they are concerned about the financial impacts of climate risk. Non-financial data continues to underpin investment decisions, with sustainability considerations, particularly climate exposure, routinely factored into due diligence questionnaires.
In this context, the GCC’s unified ESG reporting initiative appears pragmatic, in that it seeks to support local capital market development while also meeting the expectations of global capital providers. GCC regulators have the opportunity to integrate global principles, such as those developed by the ISSB, in a way that reflects regional priorities.
They can learn from jurisdictions that have struggled with disclosure overload or lack of data comparability, and establish a model grounded in materiality, proportionality, and data usability. If executed well, this could position the region not just as a participant in the global sustainable finance ecosystem, but as a benchmark for scalable, investor-relevant disclosure.
2. UAE banks pledged AED 1 Trillion green finance at COP28 – today, 55% of that amount has already been deployed, signalling an inevitable decline. Yet, blue investing is emerging as a new potential segment. How can this impact ESG disclosure frameworks regionally and globally؟
The rapid deployment of green capital in the UAE underscores the region’s ability to mobilize sustainable finance at scale. While MENA accounts for approximately 2% of global green issuance volume, according to Bloomberg’s data, in 2025 we have already seen a 25% year-on-year growth rate.
From the sustainability issues in Q1 2025, 75% originates from Saudi Arabia, including their recent 1.5bn euro-denominated green bond issuance, which topped the list of debut GSS bond issuers. It demonstrates that the region understands the mechanics of international capital markets and is actively leveraging debt frameworks to attract global investors.
Similarly, the UAE has built up skill sets in dealing with extreme heat and water efficiency that, with scale, could become increasingly exportable as the world confronts rising temperatures and water scarcity. The region is positioning itself as a resilient, adaptive centre for sustainable finance. By scaling proven innovations, the Middle East can lead in shaping the next frontier of sustainability-linked investment.
Turning to blue finance, focused on ocean-related sustainability, it is still in its infancy from a data and disclosure perspective. We expect this situation to evolve, as the financial industry’s attention is evolving beyond carbon and transition or physical risk analytics to analyse the financial materiality of nature and water-related factors. At Bloomberg we launched a nature and biodiversity analytics offering last year, and continuously review market developments to ensure our offering evolves to meet the needs of our clients.
3. UAE, Saudi and other GCC regulators are stepping up governance with a range of bold measures. How is international collaboration accelerating ESG maturity in the Gulf?
By engaging with ISSB, IOSCO, and through bilateral partnerships, for example through the ASEAN-GCC Framework of Cooperation (2024–2028), GCC regulators are not only adopting international best practices, they are actively contributing to the evolution of global frameworks.
This collaboration accelerates institutional capability, improves data infrastructure, and supports the scaling of sustainability reporting across the region. Bloomberg plays an important role here, helping to bridge global frameworks with local implementation by delivering decision-useful sustainable finance data that meets both regulatory and investor-grade standards. Moreover, international engagement has elevated the region’s credibility. If sustained, this momentum could position the region as a climate innovation hub, and not a follower of global trends.