Strengthening transparency, institutional accountability, and sustainability practices across the UAE private sector
In line with its ongoing efforts to promote transparency and institutionalize responsible corporate practices
04 August 2025: Majra– National CSR Fund announced that nearly 300 companies have successfully completed the mandatory Impact Declaration through the Sustainable Impact Digital Portal. This milestone marks a significant step in embedding sustainability and governance principles across the private sector and represents the first phase in the process of applying for the Impact Seal, a federal recognition for companies demonstrating measurable contributions to the UAE’s sustainable development.
The Impact Declaration serves as a unified federal tool to assess a company’s disclosure of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices, and actual contributions to the UAE community—be it financial, in-kind, or volunteer-based.
Commenting on this development, Sarah Shaw, CEO of Majra, noted that the increasing engagement with the Impact Declaration and applications for the Impact Seal reflect a growing institutional commitment within the private sector toward transparency and measurable action. She stated, “At Majra, we are building a nationwide institutional environment grounded in documentation, impact measurement, and results-driven partnerships. Through the Sustainable Impact Digital Portal, we empower companies to transform their commitments into measurable contributions that serve society and advance the UAE’s vision for sustainable corporate responsibility.”
In parallel with this growing participation, Majra received approximately 160 applications for the second cycle of the Impact Seal through the digital portal. The applications included around 100 from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
and 60 from large corporates—demonstrating increased interest from all economic sectors in formalizing their impact and enhancing institutional competitiveness.
The Impact Seal is awarded across two official categories: one for large companies and a newly introduced category dedicated to SMEs, aligned with the UAE’s National SME Agenda. The Seal is granted in three tiers—Platinum, Gold, and Silver—based on the scope and depth of corporate impact and sustainability practices.
Launched in late 2024, the Sustainable Impact Digital Portal serves as an integrated national platform enabling companies to submit declarations and applications in a streamlined and unified manner. The portal also provides access to a suite of services offered by Majra, including the documentation and accreditation of CSR and sustainability projects, certified workshops, specialized studies, and capacity-building programs tailored to institutional needs. It ensures alignment with national priorities and global sustainability standards.
Obtaining the Impact Seal offers companies a comprehensive range of strategic and regulatory benefits. It represents official federal-level recognition for excellence in ESG, CSR, and sustainability, elevating corporate credibility and public image at both local and international levels. The Seal reinforces stakeholder and investor trust through a certified endorsement from a UAE government entity and grants companies’ priority access to government-led initiatives, policy development circles, and high-level partnership opportunities. It also supports institutional branding through authorized promotional use of the Seal emblem and strengthens internal performance by enabling companies to review and improve their sustainability indicators and systems. All achievements are recorded and made visible through the portal, contributing to a transparent national repository of impact and facilitating integration into the wider sustainability ecosystem in the UAE.
This upward trend in corporate participation confirms the success of the federal impact measurement framework in fostering a culture of responsible business, enabling verified tracking of private sector contributions, and directing them toward national priorities in line with global ESG and sustainability benchmarks.
