Participants at the 4th Private Sector Social Responsibility and Its Role in Sustainable Development Conference have adopted the Doha Declaration 2026, outlining a long-term roadmap to align business profitability with sustainability and social impact.
The two-day conference, hosted by the Qatar Chamber, concluded on Thursday with recommendations focusing on unified standards for corporate social responsibility (CSR), stronger governance of global value chains, and increased investment in innovation, digital transformation and green finance.
The declaration calls for the adoption of a unified professional classification for CSR, proposing the Arab CSR Index as a regional benchmark. It also urges family-owned businesses to embed environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices into their operations and to support initiatives promoting digital education, community health, women's empowerment, youth engagement and social entrepreneurship.
Participants highlighted the importance of investing in artificial intelligence and green technologies to improve efficiency and reduce carbon footprints. The conference also recommended launching an International Observatory for Sustainability and Social Responsibility, alongside professional exchange and twinning programs aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and spreading a culture of social responsibility among younger generations.
A key theme of the conference was the shift away from traditional charity-based CSR towards an integrated ESG-driven model aligned with international sustainability standards, seen as essential for long-term business resilience and economic competitiveness in the Arab world.
The Doha Declaration 2026 also emphasised humanitarian solidarity, calling for the creation of joint Arab funds and initiatives to support research and development and digital entrepreneurship.
Conference participants described social responsibility as a strategic pillar of good governance, arguing that the private sector plays a central role in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals and in building trust between businesses and society.
Organised jointly by the Qatar Chamber, the Union of Arab Chambers, the League of Arab States, the Regional Network Consultancy and the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the conference began on Wednesday and brought together business leaders, policymakers and international partners.
Organisers said the declaration represents a collective commitment to translating the conference's vision into practical policies, laying the foundations for what they described as a new social contract that balances growth with sustainability and equity for future generations.
