A systematic review of sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) integration in UAE higher education

Abstract This systematic review focuses on the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) related to a PRISMA-guided search of literature published between 2013 and 2024, collected in Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and other sources of grey literature. The review acknowledges that major advances have been made in the implementation of green campus operations, curricular approaches, and systems of governance that are in line with the national plans, like the UAE Vision 2021 and the UAE Green Agenda 2030. Critical issues such as finances and lack of awareness among stakeholders and policy fragmentation are also mentioned, as well as new opportunities in technological development, cross-sector partnerships, and improved regulatory cohesion. The synthesis of existing practices, barriers, and future opportunities makes the study evidence-based to inform educators, policymakers, and institutional leaders and pinpoint gaps in the research to ensure further scholarly and practical sustainable higher education in the UAE and beyond.