As ESG disclosure standards tighten and global carbon rules take effect, companies in the Middle East are turning to real time sustainability tools to meet compliance and unlock new financial value.
Alexej Huebert, CFO for MEA South at SAP, says technologies like the SAP Sustainability Control Tower and Green Ledger are shifting ESG from manual reporting to real time, data-driven decision-making. In an interview, Huebert said SAP aims to automate 70% of ESG KPIs using integrated platforms, helping firms move beyond compliance toward operational efficiency and profitability.
With regional exporters facing increased scrutiny under regulations like the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, Huebert said tools like Business AI and Agentic AI could enable companies to track emissions in real time, predict risks, and identify green financing opportunities.
He added that companies leading in ESG are already seeing up to 20% higher returns and that embedding sustainability into finance is now a strategic advantage, not just a regulatory requirement.
