The document summarizes the results of a survey of over 150 executives from 8 countries in the Middle East on their views of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Key findings include: executives see CSR as a driver of growth and innovation, understanding of CSR is maturing to see it as minimizing negative impacts, issues like climate change and resource management are still not fully addressed, and CSR needs to be more integrated into management processes. Barriers to CSR and calls for more government support and awareness are also discussed.

1. What do Middle Eastern Executives think
about CSR?
Sustainability Advisory Group
July 2010
see further <think wider> do better

2. Middle Eastern Executives Agree:
CSR is a driver for growth and innovation
High-level survey results
Following the success of last year’s inaugural regional CSR survey, Sustainability Advisory
Group conducted the 2nd survey exploring executive views on corporate responsibility
and sustainability in the Middle East. The high-level results are presented in this
document.
For more information about the survey contact:
Maria Sillanpaa +971 (0)50 719 4042
maria@sustainabilityadvisory.net
see further <think wider> do better

3. What do regional business executives think about CSR?
Over 150 respondents to the
survey
8 participating countries:
The Yemen, Saudi Arabia,
Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain,
Egypt and the UAE.
see further <think wider> do better

4. What do regional executives think of CSR?
Majority of respondents work in CSR, strategy and business
development
see further <think wider> do better

5. What do regional executives think of CSR?
Great variety of different types of respondents
see further <think wider> do better

6. What do regional executives think of CSR?
Understanding of CSR is maturing
65% believe ‘minimising negative and maximising positive
impacts’ is the most appropriate definition of CSR
- up almost 10 percentage points on last year.
65% DO NOT think community investment is an adequate
definition of CSR
- up from 53% last year.
Less than 8% view community investment to be THE core
definition
- down from 17% last year.
see further <think wider> do better

7. What do regional executives think of CSR?
Current business priorities
see further <think wider> do better

8. What do regional executives think of CSR?
CSR can…
see further <think wider> do better

9. What do regional executives think of CSR?
How important will these issues be to your business in the next 10
years?
see further <think wider> do better

10. What do regional executives think of CSR?
How effectively are issues being addressed?
see further <think wider> do better

11. What do regional executives think of CSR?
There’s still complacency towards critical issues
30 - 50% respondents believe issues of:
•water conservation
•climate change
•waste management
•ecological health
•energy conservation
•access to resources and
•green buildings
are not really addressed by, or considered
applicable to, their business.
see further <think wider> do better

12. What do regional executives think of CSR?
CSR is not yet well translated into management processes
Over half respondents said that
they have a clearly articulated CSR
strategy, signed off at the highest
level.
Numbers drop when asked if CSR is integrated into management
processes:
• Part of KPIs: 28% yes, only 14% formally
• Bonus scheme: 33% yes, only 11% formally
see further <think wider> do better

13. What do regional executives think of CSR?
Barriers to CSR…
see further <think wider> do better

14. What do regional executives think of CSR?
CSR is increasing in importance in the current economic climate
2009
2010
see further <think wider> do better

15. What do regional executives think of CSR?
How important is CSR in this economic climate?
“As companies are suffering with the reduction in their bottom line they have
less funds allocated to CSR.”
“The future of the company is uncertain and that leads managers to think of
the use of investing time, people and money in something that will not
directly benefit them.”
“It's unfortunate that the market is a little immature to comprehend the
importance of CSR during the current economic climate.”
“We have time to understand how unsustainable the previous way of
conducting business was and establish more efficient and effective ways.”
see further <think wider> do better

16. What do regional executives think of CSR?
Call for awareness
“More needed to be done to
build awareness”
“CSR is a moral responsibility of every human
on this universe - this awareness has to be
created.”
“CSR concept is still quite nebulous even to senior executives
thus the need for awareness campaigns…judging its benefits
in more concrete ways”
see further <think wider> do better

17. What do regional executives think of CSR?
Call for government support & incentives
“There should be government incentives for companies to
incorporate CSR and also local government support.”
“I think the Government of UAE should take initiative in
this regards. Government should make them realise the
importance of CSR.”
see further <think wider> do better

18. What do regional executives think of CSR?
Other comments?
“…limited specialized publications in Arabic. This prolongs
the dominant confusion, consequently the local
experience and ideological input.”
“CSR could serve as a bridge between business across the
Middle East. Mutual work on defining the issues of the
region as well as long term partnerships to advance
solutions”
see further <think wider> do better

19. To find out more about Sustainability Advisory Group and how
we can help you to deliver long term value, contact:
Maria Sillanpaa
Mobile: (UK) +44 7710 597 498
Mobile: (UAE) +971 50 719 4042
maria@sustainabilityadvisory.net
info@sustainabilityadvisory.net
www.sustainabilityadvisory.net
see further <think wider> do better