Dr. Meryem Hamidi
Partner & Chief Strategist – ESG & Sustainable Growth, Founder of AINAR & Sustainability Researcher, UAE
Dr. Meryem Hamidi is a leading expert in ESG strategy, energy efficiency, and sustainable growth. As the founder of AINAR and a partner at Skillocity, she empowers organizations to align profitability with purpose through data-driven sustainability initiatives and innovative energy solutions. With over 12 years of experience, she bridges technical expertise with strategic vision driving measurable impact in energy systems, decarbonization, and corporate responsibility.
Her work supports public and private sectors in transitioning toward net-zero and circular economy models. A recognized thought leader, Meryem is actively engaged with global professional bodies including IEEE, AEE, PMI, DBWC, and ADERN, and serves as a reviewer for international journals.
Known for her systems-level thinking and actionable insight, she is a sought-after speaker at global events and industry roundtables. Meryem helps organizations embed ESG at the core of business delivering value for people, planet, and performance.
1. How are global companies embedding net-zero goals into their core business strategies not just CSR initiatives?
Net zero is no longer a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative it’s now an operational driver and strategic transformation. Companies are integrating net-zero into governance frameworks, tying climate accountability to executive compensation and board oversight ( https://www.nacdonline.org/all-governance/governance-resources/directorship-magazine/online-exclusives/assessment-integration-esg-compensation/) . The Climate Transition Action Plan links emissions targets directly to procurement and R&D, embedding low-carbon innovation into product development.
Others are integrating science-based targets into board level strategy, ensuring executive oversight and tying them directly to compensation and risk management. This shift is represented by many companies and platforms, which partners with multinationals to operationalize net-zero through integrated data platforms, scenario modeling, and transparent reporting (https://sciencebasedtargets.org/net-zero) . They make climate goals a key part of financial planning, product innovation, and supply chain decisions, ensuring emissions reduction is integrated into everyday business operations.
The experts also are developing and improving tools like blockchain and AI to trace Scope 3 emissions the most difficult part to track and mandate supplier targets. Net-zero is being treated as a systemic imperative, not a marketing statement.
2. What role does government policy and public-private collaboration play in driving carbon reduction in the region?
In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, ambitious government policies and dynamic public-private collaboration form the support of the accelerating carbon decrease agenda. The UAE and Saudi Arabia lead the sustainability actions with clear net-zero targets 2050 for the UAE and 2060 for Saudi Arabia implanting climate action deeply into their national economic strategies (https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/strategies-initiatives-and-awards/strategies-plans-and-visions/environment-and-energy/the-uae-net-zero-2050-strategy) .
The UAE’s Energy Strategy 2050 and the COP28 presidency have accelerated investments in renewables, green hydrogen, and carbon capture. Public-private partnerships are central: leading projects like Masdar City and the Al Dhafra solar park are co-developed with global technology providers and local industry, creating scalable blueprints for low-carbon infrastructure (https://masdar.ae/en/news/newsroom/uae-announces-net-zero-by-2050-strategic-initiative) . Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2060 is also driving change, their Green Initiative mobilizing billions in clean energy and reforestation, while requiring private enterprises to line up with national emissions targets. The most known projects, NEOM, with $500 billion green megaproject driven entirely by renewables, illustrate the huge efforts supported by public-private partnerships ( https://www.sgi.gov.sa/saudi-global-climate-impact/) (https://climateactiontracker.org/countries/saudi-arabia/net-zero-targets/) .
In the other hand, other GCC like Qatar and Oman bring into line their strategies in climate actions by emerging collaborations with international energy stakeholders.
In summary, the GCC governments deliver the regulatory frameworks, strategic investments, and policy. Public private collaboration translates these frameworks into innovative projects and scalable solutions, driving the region’s transition to a low-carbon economy. This synergy between policy and industry is important for addressing infrastructure gaps, mobilizing finance, and ensuring impactful climate action (https://www.globalcarboncouncil.com/gcc-partners-with-gasp-to-advance-climate-action-and-sustainable-development/).