ADIB Egypt integrates environmental, social criteria into project financing

01 / 11 / 2026

By Marwa Nassar - -

Nihal Rizk, Head of Sustainability and Sustainable Finance at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) Egypt, said sustainability is an integral part of the bank’s business model and aligns with the principles of Islamic finance and the objectives of Shariah, noting that the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are closely aligned with these principles.

She made the remarks during the session entitled “Green Infrastructure and Smart Cities: Building Future-Ready Cities Capable of Adaptation and Growth” held as part of Egypt Sustainable Business Week 2026.

Rizk said ADIB finances contractors and developers across the real estate and construction sectors, while applying additional criteria to assess projects and determine the requirements they must meet to qualify for funding.

Beyond financial, legal requirements:

Rizk said the bank’s financing assessments extend beyond financial documents, asset studies and government approvals to include environmental and social due diligence (ESDD), ensuring projects meet its standards.

The review covers the project site’s potential impact on archaeological sites and biodiversity, as well as working conditions and companies’ compliance with labor rights, including wages, social insurance and labor laws.

Assessing projects’ wider impact:

Rizk stressed that the bank applies these environmental and social criteria alongside legal requirements and government approvals to ensure a more comprehensive assessment of projects, rather than relying solely on their compliance with formal requirements when making financing decisions.

She concluded that this approach enables the bank to assess projects’ environmental and social impact in advance and determine whether they meet sustainable finance requirements, helping direct funding toward more responsible and sustainable activities.