The Equator Principles: ESG Risk in Project Finance
What the Equator Principles are, how they apply the IFC Performance Standards to project finance, and why they connect a GCC bank's lending to environmental and social risk.
Insights · Page 2
Analysis on UAE and GCC ESG, climate risk, and assurance.
Practitioner perspectives on regulatory developments, methodology questions, and the issues we see most often in client work — written by senior team members actively delivering engagements across the Gulf.
2026
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Sustainability-Linked Loans (SLLs): Structuring, KPIs and SPTs
How sustainability-linked loans work, the role of KPIs, SPTs and the margin ratchet, and how they differ from green loans — for GCC borrowers and lenders.
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SLB vs SLL: Sustainability-Linked Bonds and Loans Compared
How sustainability-linked bonds and sustainability-linked loans differ, what each suits, and how the coupon step-up and margin ratchet work — for GCC issuers and borrowers.
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Second Party Opinions and Verification of Green Instruments
What a second party opinion is, how external review and verification keep green bonds, sukuk and sustainability-linked instruments credible, and why GCC issuers need them.
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Green Loans and Transition Finance Explained
What green loans are under the LMA Green Loan Principles, how transition finance differs, and why both matter for funding GCC decarbonisation.
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Green Sukuk and Islamic Sustainable Finance Explained
What green sukuk are, how they combine Sharia-compliant structures with green use-of-proceeds, and why they are a defining GCC sustainable-finance instrument.
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Green Bonds Explained: The ICMA Principles and GCC Issuance
What green bonds are, how the ICMA Green Bond Principles structure them, and why green and sustainable debt issuance is growing rapidly across the GCC.
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Saudi Arabia's Sustainable Finance: A Capital-Markets-Led Approach
How Saudi Arabia is building sustainable finance — the Green Financing Framework, CMA sukuk and bond guidelines, and Vision 2030 — and what it means for issuers and banks.
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Qatar's QCB Sustainable Finance Framework Explained
What the Qatar Central Bank Sustainable Finance Framework requires, how it positions Qatar as a regional leader, and what it means for banks operating in Qatar.
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Climate Transition Planning for GCC Banks
What a credible climate transition plan involves, how the CBUAE principles and global frameworks shape it, and why GCC banks need one beyond a net-zero pledge.