Now Available: Arab Region SDG Index and Dashboards 2026
Financing Sustainable Development in the Arab Region
February 5, 2026 — Launched today at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, the Arab Region SDG Index and Dashboards Report 2026 provides a comprehensive assessment of progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development across the 22 member states of the League of Arab States. The Index comprises 118 indicators covering the 17 SDGs, including 28 region-specific indicators reflecting Arab regional priorities and challenges.
Prepared by the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the report highlights the following key findings:
Moderate regional progress and persistent disparities
The Arab region’s overall SDG score stands at 60.6, indicating moderate progress from the previous year, yet still below two-thirds of the SDG targets. Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates surpass this threshold, reflecting comparatively stronger performance. However, significant disparities remain across the region, highlighting uneven development outcomes.
Divergent SDG Performance Across Subregions
Subregional analysis highlights divergent development trajectories. North Africa records the highest average score (approximately 68), followed by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (approximately 64) and the Levant and Iraq subregion (approximately 62). The subregion of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) lags behind with an average score of approximately 52. Conflict-affected countries consistently underperform, and current scores are likely to understate recent humanitarian impacts in contexts such as Gaza and Lebanon due to data lags.
Most SDGs Remain Off Track Across the Region
At the goal level, approximately 85% of SDG scores indicate major or significant challenges, and nearly half of all trends show stagnation. No SDG is universally achieved across the region, highlighting the breadth of remaining challenges.
Shared SDG Challenges in the Arab Region
SDG 5 (Gender equality) stands out as the biggest challenge in the Arab region. All countries score red on SDG 5, with widespread stagnation in women’s economic and political representation and participation, and income equality. In the LDC subregion, child marriage and access to reproductive health underscore the urgent need for transformative action.
Progress on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) remains weak across the Arab region, with all countries facing challenges such as prevalence of wasting and stunting in LDCs, and rising obesity rates. Regarding SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), the region faces rising rates of diabetes and low levels of subjective well-being for non-GCC countries. Other common challenges across the region include severe pressure on freshwater resources (SDG 6, Clean Water and Sanitation), limited renewable energy deployment and high CO2 emissions (SDG 7, Affordable and Clean Energy), negative trends in economic diversification, lack of access to financial institutions, and unemployment (SDG 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth). LDCs face the highest vulnerability to climate-related disasters (SDG 13, Climate Action). Most Arab countries score red on SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), with stagnant trends in protecting marine, freshwater, and terrestrial sites. SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) shows major or significant challenges across all Arab countries. Freedom of the press, corruption, ongoing conflicts, and political instability are shared concerns across the region.
Areas of SDG Progress in the Arab Region
Despite widespread challenges, advances are observed in female education (SDG 5), basic health outcomes (SDG 3), access to water and sanitation (SDG 6), energy services (SDG 7), digital connectivity (SDG 9), and birth registration systems (SDG 16), with many countries achieving green scores or positive trends.
Persistent Data Gaps
While national statistical systems are strengthening across the Arab region, significant data gaps persist in SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Limited data on income and wealth distribution continues to hinder effective, targeted policymaking to reduce poverty, address inequalities, and build resilience.
Bridging the SDG Financing Gap in the Arab Region
While global annual savings of US$30 trillion far exceed the US$4 trillion required to achieve the SDGs, structural inequities in the international financial system prevent this capital from reaching developing Arab countries. Advancing the SDGs demands a paradigm shift, placing goals at the center of public financial flows, aligning credit ratings with long-term growth prospects, and expanding debt-for-climate swaps to unlock vital liquidity for sustainable development.
Report and datasets: https://sdgtransformationcenter.org/reports/arab-region-sdg-index-and-dashboards-report-2026
Citation Details: Zakzak, L., Qiblawi, Z., Luomi, M., Subramani, K., Fuller, G., Salem, F., and Lafortune, G. (2026). Arab Region SDG Index and Dashboards 2026: Financing Sustainable Development in the Arab Region. Dubai and Paris: Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) and Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
Contacts Grayson Fuller | grayson.fuller@unsdsn.org | Senior Manager of the SDG Index
About the SDSN The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has been operating since 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. The SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement. SDSN aims to accelerate joint learning and promote integrated approaches that address the interconnected economic, social, and environmental challenges confronting the world. One of SDSN’s flagship initiatives is the SDG Transformation Center, which produces the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) and provides science-based tools and analytics for SDG pathways, policies, and financing.
For more information, visit unsdsn.org and sdgtransformationcenter.org.