Arab Region SDG Index And Dashboards Report 2025 Released By Mohammed Bin Rashid School Of Government

The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) have introduced the Arab Region SDG Index and Dashboards Report 2025. This launch took place during the World Governments Summit, following a keynote by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, President of the UN SDSN. The report provides updated data on the Arab region's progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Professor Jeffrey Sachs stated, "The Arab region is making an extraordinary effort to achieve sustainable development and the SDGs in particular. It is therefore a great honour and privilege for the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network to partner with the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government in preparing this important report. We believe that the Arab region will be among the world leaders in the SDGs in the coming years and that the evidence in this report will help guide the extraordinary efforts that are now underway."

The 2025 report evaluates regional progress using 115 indicators across all 17 SDGs. Each indicator receives a score from zero to 100, with traffic light colours indicating performance levels. A special chapter offers insights into resilience from a sustainable development perspective.

Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of MBRSG, remarked on their commitment as Knowledge Partner for the World Governments Summit 2025. He said, "As Knowledge Partner for the World Governments Summit 2025, the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government is committed to supporting the event in achieving its objectives to chart a roadmap for the future for leaders and policymakers, one that is rooted in concrete data and empirical evidence to address challenges and ensure progress and sustainability."

The report highlights significant strides towards sustainability but also identifies major challenges. While six countries—Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, and UAE—have achieved two-thirds of their SDG targets, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) face stark disparities.

Regional Strategies for Improvement

Dr. Fadi Salem from MBRSG emphasised urgent regional strategies due to poor scores in SDG 16 related to peace and justice. He stated: "The challenges identified underscore the urgency for accelerated efforts throughout the region. Primarily, the persistent poor scores in SDG 16, related peace, justice and building strong institutions should be the priority as a critical lever for advancing all SDGs across the Arab region, especially in light of major geopolitical transitions."

Moreover, a new indicator measuring support for UN-based multilateralism was introduced. Approximately one-third of Arab countries met this target according to SDSN data.

Advancements Despite Challenges

Lama Zakzak from MBRSG noted advancements despite obstacles: "Despite challenges, the report also highlights notable advancements; the accelerated growth in adoption and use of digital infrastructure means the Arab region improved on certain targets related to SDG 9 (Industries, Innovation, and Infrastructure), with progress also recorded on SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) in areas related to basic health outcomes."

Overall, an average score of 60.5 was achieved across all SDGs by Arab countries. The report serves as a vital tool guiding policymakers toward targeted interventions promoting sustainable development throughout this region.

This comprehensive assessment underscores both achievements made thus far along with necessary actions needed moving forward towards creating more resilient societies within these nations.

With inputs from WAM