• Report reinforces guiding principles on Sustainable Finance 
• Encourages growth of sustainable investments opportunities in the UAE 

Abu Dhabi, June 28th 2020:   Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), part of ADQ, has launched today its first Sustainability Report. The report is the first across the region to be presented in such a comprehensive format and is expected to be updated annually.  

The report is aligned with ADX’s growth strategy, which aims to increase the adoption of sustainable financing in the Emirate and drive capital towards investments that have positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) impacts. The report illustrates ADX’s commitment to help align the UAE’s financial system with global best practice and advance the implementation locally of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

H.E. Khalifa Salem Al Mansouri, Chief Executive of ADX, said: “Following our commitment announced at the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum during the most recent Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in January, we are proud that our first Sustainability Report advances the sustainability agenda we announced at the time. This report places ESG at the heart of our Emirate’s financial system and reinforces the leadership position we are taking to drive sustainability in financial markets. We are determined to integrate sustainable practices into our business as ESG’s impact on access to capital, revenue growth, brand value and reputation is increasingly important around the world”.

The report comes a few months after ADX issued a set of ESG disclosure guidelines to encourage its listed companies to incorporate ESG considerations into their business activities, decision-making and reporting. To better address the interest of local and international investors in sustainable investing, the report aims to motivate listed companies to follow ADX’s lead by issuing their own sustainability reports. These companies are encouraged to adhere to ADX's index indicators, which are aligned with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), including 31 KPIs that form the ESG Disclosure Guidance rules. These rules comply with recommendations issued by the Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative (SSE) and the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), of which ADX is a member.

H.E. Khalifa Salem Al Mansouri continued “We hope that ADX’s Sustainability Report will boost good governance for ADX-listed companies and push them to explore new investment opportunities opened up by sustainable finance. ESG, corporate ethics, disclosure and transparency are essential elements for today’s investors, and the implementation of best practice in sustainable investing is of importance to boost our Exchange’s international competitiveness”.
 
ADX’s Sustainability Report establishes a dedicated financial framework to facilitate sustainable investments. It consists of four main sections: 
1) Market Education enabling ESG/Sustainability reporting and sustainable investment practices. 
2) Technology and Education through e-service portals designed to provide investors with the information and tools they need. 
3) Responsive Marketplace with the intent to align ADX’s business with its customer-centric strategy. 
4) Resilience Infrastructure to ensure orderly trading and reliability of the Exchange’s infrastructure.

H.E. Khalifa Salem Al Mansouri concluded: “At ADX, we anticipate further growth of sustainable investments across the region to meet evolving expectations of retail and institutional investors alike. With the launch of our ESG report, we are making a significant contribution towards realizing our leadership’s vision in boosting the UAE’s financial exchanges’ competitiveness, attracting more sustainable investments to Abu Dhabi and helping to diversify the economy.”

ADX is one of the signatories of the 'Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration', and a member of the UAE Working Group on Sustainable Finance and the United Nations Partnership Programme’s Sustainable Stock Exchange (SSE) Initiative.