Galadari Brothers embrace ESG and promote sustainability

Khaleej Times

16-04-2025

As Khaleej Times celebrates more than four decades of chronicling the UAE's journey of transformation, let's spotlight the nation's changemakers, those shaping not just economies but also sustainable futures. For, there was a time when sustainability in the corporate world lived quietly in the corners — as a footnote, a press release, or a once-a-year tree planting event. But in today's climate-conscious era, purpose has moved to the centre of the boardroom and nothing makes that shift clearer than the recent, quietly powerful actions taken by Galadari Brothers.
Theirs is not a story about slogans or glossy pledges but of long-term thinking, environmental literacy, and a willingness to get their hands dirty. Literally. Established in 1960, Galadari Brothers has long been recognised as one of the UAE's pioneering conglomerates, with a diversified portfolio spanning media, heavy equipment, food & beverage, motors, engineering, projects, facility management, sports, travel and hospitality, real estate, and other ventures. The release of inaugural sustainability report for 2023 last year marks a shift from reactive CSR efforts to a more structured, measurable approach rooted in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards. The 2024 report published early 2025, adopts the Global Reporting Initiative framework and outlines the company's performance across key ESG indicators. It addresses climate-related impacts, waste management, ethical supply chains, energy consumption, and employee wellbeing, presented through the lens of both the UAE Vision 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Among the initiatives highlighted is the company's growing investment in nature-based solutions, specifically, mangrove restoration. Often described as 'climate superheroes', mangroves have become central to the UAE's environmental strategy, with a nationwide target to plant 100 million trees by 2030.
On February 2, 2025 - World Wetlands Day, Galadari Brothers organised a mangrove planting and educational activity at the Al Zorah Mangrove Forest in Ajman. Employees took part in kayaking and tree-planting efforts aimed at reconnecting participants with the local environment while underscoring the critical role mangroves play in coastal protection and carbon capture.
In addition to the awareness initiative, the company has pledged to sponsor the planting of 10,000 mangrove trees. This is more than symbolic; it is a tangible contribution to the UAE's broader ecological goals and a demonstration of the private sector's potential to drive environmental progress from the ground up.
Reimagining Business in a Climate-Conscious Age
Galadari Brothers' commitment to mangrove restoration is not an isolated gesture, it is part of a broader shift in how the group sees its role in a rapidly changing world. From engaging employees in hands-on conservation to aligning internal practices with global benchmarks, the company is shaping a culture that values both environmental responsibility and long-term resilience.
While the act of planting 10,000 mangrove trees may seem small on a global scale, it represents something larger: the belief that real impact begins at the root - in the choices made, the values upheld, and the legacy left behind. Paired with a detailed sustainability roadmap that outlines the group's efforts across energy, waste, workforce wellbeing and governance, these initiatives signal a business not simply reacting to global pressure but genuinely responding to it.
As the UAE accelerates its vision for a greener future, and as Khaleej Times marks 47 years of documenting the region's transformation, examples like these remind us that sustainability is not just about numbers or strategies. It's about action - quiet, deliberate, and grounded - in the forests, in the communities, and in the decisions that shape tomorrow.