Abstract
The sustainable transformation of economies that have historically depended on hydrocarbons has become one of the defining governance challenges of the global energy transition. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), as a major oil and gas producer, faces the dual imperative of sustaining economic growth while advancing ambitious climate commitments, including the Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative. While policy ambition and technological innovation have received considerable attention, less scrutiny has been directed toward the organisational and governance dynamics through which sustainability agendas are embedded within the oil and gas sector. This paper examines the sustainable transformation of the UAE oil and gas sector through the lens of organisational change and governance. Drawing on sustainability transitions theory, organisational change theory, and transition governance literature, the study analyses how sustainability objectives are adopted, institutionalised, and operationalised within the sector. It identifies structural tensions between centralised strategic control, legacy performance regimes, and the growing demands of decarbonisation. The paper concludes by proposing an empirical research agenda aimed at advancing understanding of sustainability governance in resource-dependent economies.