Framework for Mapping Internal Stakeholder Dynamics in Driving Green Innovation Strategies in the UAE Oil & Gas Sector

Abstract

Global population and economic growth placed increasing pressure on natural resources, creating urgent environmental and sustainability challenges for resource-intensive industries. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the oil and gas sector faced heightened risks from divestment movements and the need to align with national sustainability agendas such as Net Zero 2050. Despite ongoing initiatives, the absence of a structured, stakeholder-driven framework for adopting Green Innovation Strategies (GIS) limited progress. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of internal stakeholders—shareholders, employees, suppliers, and technology providers—on the successful adoption of GIS within the UAE oil and gas sector. A sequential mixed-methods design was employed, beginning with a quantitative survey (n=252) analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), followed by qualitative interviews (n=15) to validate and contextualise the results. The findings confirmed that internal stakeholders overall had a significant influence on GIS adoption. Among them, suppliers and technology providers, along with shareholder pressure, emerged as the strongest drivers. In contrast, employee engagement showed no major influence, underscoring the need for greater empowerment and involvement of employees in sustainability initiatives. Organisational and knowledge resources played a clear mediating role, strengthening the pathways between stakeholders and GIS adoption. However, the moderating effect of environmental regulations was weak, suggesting that regulatory frameworks alone were insufficient to alter stakeholder–GIS relationships. The results also revealed that downstream operations, due to their high energy intensity and emissions, represented the most critical stream for GIS implementation. Based on these insights, the study developed the Green Integrated Value Assurance Process (GIVAP), a framework that embeds GIS criteria into governance and project decision-making across all oil and gas streams. This framework provides both theoretical and practical contributions by linking stakeholder theory and the resource-based view to operational decision processes. In conclusion, the research demonstrated that embedding GIS into project governance enhances competitiveness, supports regulatory compliance, and strengthens the UAE’s pathway toward its sustainability ambitions. The study offered actionable recommendations for policymakers and industry leaders while contributing to the wider discourse on environmental innovation in high-impact sectors.