Frederic Saada

Co-Founder of TALEA & Board Member of the German Business Council (GBCK), Kuwait

As Co-Founder of TALEA, Frederic Saada has built a strong track record in Marketing & Communication, Project Management, Trade Promotion, and International Business Development.

Over 20 years’ successful experience providing strategic and operations leadership in challenging situations. In addition to this entrepreneurial role, Frederic serves as a Board Member of the German Business Council (GBCK) and previously contributed expertise as Commercial Advisor at Advantage Austria – Austrian Embassy Commercial Section.

Under Frederic Saada’s leadership, TALEA has become a trusted partner for clients seeking to expand into the GCC, delivering tailored market entry strategies that include investor introductions, networking opportunities, and communication support.

TALEA’s work spans multiple industries across Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, and the UAE, providing Frederic’s with extensive exposure to different markets and cultures. This international footprint underscores Frederic’s ability to bridge global business with regional opportunities, fostering long-term partnerships with prestigious clients and organizations.

1. What are the most effective global strategies to prevent greenwashing in sustainable finance and ensure integrity in ESG-linked investment products?

Preventing greenwashing & ensuring integrity in ESG-linked products

Adopt a single disclosure baseline (ISSB S1/S2) for entity-level sustainability and climate risk reporting, then layer local rules on top. This reduces “standards shopping” and makes fund- and loan-level claims checkable against comparable, decision-useful data. (Jurisdictional adoption is accelerating through 2024–2025). IFRS S&P Global xbrl.org

Harden product naming & labels with bright-line thresholds. Require funds using “ESG/sustainable/transition” in the name to meet minimum asset-alignment tests (e.g., ESMA’s 80% rule) plus exclusions where appropriate; supervise usage through pre- and post-sale disclosures. ESMA+1
Impose an anti-greenwashing rule that applies to all comms. The UK model makes any sustainability reference subject to “fair, clear, not misleading” from 31 May 2024; similar horizontal rules can sit above sectoral guidance. FCA+1
Mandate independent verification/assurance where claims are material. Use limited assurance stepping up to reasonable assurance over time for reported sustainability metrics; for impact funds, leverage OPIM’s public disclosure + periodic independent verification requirement to deter “impact-washing.” IFC impactprinciples.org
Tighten financed-emissions and transition-plan claims. Require PCAF-aligned financed-emissions accounting (including the 2023 facilitated-emissions standard) and transparent target-setting to back any “Paris-aligned/transition” marketing. Carbon Accounting Financials+1
Coordinate across regulators & exchanges for surveillance and enforcement, and publish Q&As/guidance to shrink gray areas (e.g., ESMA fund-name Q&A; FCA SDR implementation guidance). Dechert The Investment Association

2. How can institutional investors globally assess and measure the real-world impact of their sustainable and impact investments?

Measuring “real-world” impact (beyond risk/ESG scores)

Define impact intent & investor contribution up front using OPIM (Principles 1–3), then publish an OPIM disclosure with periodic independent verification. impactprinciples.org EBRD

Use IRIS+ Core Metrics Sets (GIIN) to select outcome-centric indicators aligned to the SDGs and the Five Dimensions of Impact; standardize metrics across portfolios. impacttoolkit.thegiin.org
Attribute outcomes credibly. Combine output/outcome indicators with counterfactuals (where feasible), contribution analysis, or benchmarking; disclose limitations transparently in methodology notes (consistent with OPIM Principle 9). impactprinciples.org
Link portfolio emissions & nature to impact pathways. Measure financed emissions with PCAF (Scopes 1–3; add facilitated-emissions for capital markets) and adopt TNFD-aligned nature risk/impact reporting where material to connect actions to planetary outcomes. Carbon Accounting Financials
Report consistently over time (baseline, targets, progress) and align incentives (carry, fees, KPI ratchets) to verified impact, not just ESG ratings.

3. How can blended finance models be scaled to mobilize private capital for sustainable development goals on a global level?

Scaling blended finance for the SDGs

Prioritize guarantee & risk-transfer capacity at MDBs/DFIs (first-loss equity, partial risk/credit guarantees, political risk insurance) to crowd in private capital—backed by G20 capital-adequacy and MDB-reform agendas. DFSA

Standardize structures & documentation (term sheets, step-down pricing/risk waterfalls, default/ workout playbooks) and build local-currency solutions (e.g., FX hedging facilities) to remove recurring frictions flagged by market studies. adgm.com
Use scaled catalytic platforms anchored by sovereign/DFI capital that mobilize private funds—e.g., the UAE-anchored Altérra ($30B catalytic fund targeting $250B mobilization by 2030) and Brookfield’s Catalytic Transition Fund first close ($2.4B) anchored by Altérra. alterra.ae Reuters
Create country/sector “pipeline platforms” with project prep windows and performance-based policy support so private investors can underwrite repeatable deal flow rather than one-offs. (Convergence’s market reports emphasize pipeline + risk tools as binding constraints.) adgm.com

4. How can regulatory environments in the Middle East evolve to support sustainable finance and attract global ESG investors?

Evolving regulation to attract global ESG capital

Adopt the ISSB global baseline at securities-regulator level (entity-wide S1/S2) and align exchange rules—making MENA disclosures interoperable with EU/UK/Asia listings. (Global adoption momentum: 30+ jurisdictions moving; IFRS jurisdiction profiles published June 2025.) IFRS
Issue fund-naming & marketing rules echoing ESMA’s 80% test and the UK anti-greenwashing rule so international managers can rely on familiar safeguards across ADGM/DFSA/CMA regimes. ESMA FCA
Stand up regional taxonomies & use-of-proceeds guidance harmonized with international frameworks to speed green/sustainability-linked debt issuance and reduce diligence friction for inbound investors. (Leverage EU taxonomy mapping and ISSB data inputs.) ESMA IFRS
Require assurance phased-in on key sustainability metrics (starting limited, moving to reasonable) and recognize OPIM verification for impact-labelled strategies—clear signals against green/impact-washing. IFC

5. How are local investors and sovereign wealth funds integrating ESG and impact considerations into their portfolios in the Middle East?

How local investors & SWFs are integrating ESG/impact

Catalytic platforms & co-investment: Abu Dhabi’s Altérra—launched at COP28 with a $30B commitment—targets $250B mobilization by 2030 and is already anchoring third-party vehicles (e.g., Brookfield CTF) that channel capital to emerging markets transition assets. alterra.ae Reuters
SWF policy integration: Mubadala reports growing AUM and active deployment with sustainability themes embedded across infrastructure/energy/tech; public disclosures underscore portfolio-level sustainability integration and thematic allocation. Reuters
Regional momentum: Government-backed climate-finance initiatives tied to COP28 have positioned the UAE (and, increasingly, Saudi and Qatar) as hubs for transition investment vehicles attractive to global LPs seeking scale and credible governance. PwC

6. How can the Middle East improve data quality and disclosure standards to foster trust in local ESG investments and avoid greenwashing?

Improving data quality & disclosures to build trust and avoid greenwashing

Make ISSB S1/S2 the mandatory floor for listed issuers (phased by size) and publish regulator Q&As/implementation guidance, mirroring global peers—this is the fastest route to decision-useful, comparable data. IFRS

Digitize with XBRL and require audit/assurance on material KPIs, starting with climate (Scopes 1–3 methods transparent, boundary definitions clear) to raise reliability for international allocators. (SEC turmoil in the US reinforces the value of clear local rules.) DART Securities and Exchange Commission
Standardize financed-emissions reporting via PCAF (including facilitated-emissions for underwriting/syndication), with clear data-quality scores and restatement policies to enhance credibility. Provide regulator-approved templates. Carbon Accounting Financials+1
Align fund labels & exclusions with ESMA/UK so global fund houses can scale MENA products without bespoke frameworks; require plain-English consumer-facing disclosures and periodic outcomes reporting for labelled products. ESMA FCA
Nature & just-transition readiness: Encourage voluntary TNFD-aligned reporting in high-exposure sectors (water, food, land use) to pre-empt future nature-risk surprises and broaden impact beyond carbon. Capital Market Authority