The Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG), in collaboration with the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), has launched the Arab Region SDG Index and Dashboards 2026. Launched during the World Governments Summit 2026 in Dubai, the initiative provides policymakers with robust, data-driven tools to translate development plans into actionable financing, while advancing sustainable development and strengthening sustainable finance across the region.
The launch follows a strategic partnership that brings together SDSN’s global expertise and MBRSG’s leading regional research. It provides a practical framework linking national and regional development priorities to actionable financing, reflecting a forward-looking approach to integrated and sustainable policies that can accelerate SDG achievement across the Arab region.
The Summit featured a dedicated press conference to unveil the Index and discuss the state of sustainable development in the Arab region. The event gathered leading international experts and thought leaders, including Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, President of the SDSN, alongside MBRSG researchers and experts.

The 2026 edition of the Index offers an updated analysis of Arab countries’ performance in achieving the SDGs, showing regional disparities and challenges affecting progress. It also highlights the progress made and identifies opportunities to strengthen sustainable development financing pathways across the region.
The report indicates that the region’s overall average performance is estimated at approximately 60 points out of 100, falling short of the two-thirds threshold at the regional level. Seven Arab countries—Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Tunisia, and the UAE—have achieved more than two-thirds of the SDGs. Meanwhile, the region’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs), particularly those affected by conflict, recorded the lowest scores, highlighting clear development gaps across the Arab world.
The Index also highlights SDG 5 (Gender Equality) as one of the region’s most persistent challenges. Most Arab countries continue to show low performance levels, reflecting enduring structural gaps, particularly in women’s labour force participation and wage disparities. While female education indicators have improved relatively, political representation for women remains limited in several countries. Meanwhile, the region’s LDCs face compounded challenges, including high child marriage rates.

The report revealed a dual burden in achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), reflected in the persistence of malnutrition in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), alongside rising obesity rates in most Arab countries. It also highlighted a sharp divide in Decent Work & Economic Growth (SDG 8); while GCC countries exhibit positive employment trends, the rest of the region faces both high total and youth unemployment.
The Index highlighted progress made in some areas, most notably the expansion in the usage of digital infrastructure, which has contributed to improvements in SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Additionally, it observed better access to basic water and electricity services across most Arab countries. 
While essential water and sanitation services have improved, numerous countries in the Arab region still confront considerable water stress, impeding progress towards SDG 6, related to Clean Water and Sanitation.

His Excellency Dr Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of MBRSG, said: “The launch of the Arab Region SDG Index and Dashboards 2026, in collaboration with the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network and held during the World Governments Summit, marks a significant milestone in knowledge development. It provides policymakers with evidence-based data and analysis, enhancing their understanding of the developmental and economic challenges faced by the region. This information aids in translating national priorities into actionable and financeable pathways that promote the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
His Excellency added: “This edition is part of the strategic partnership between MBRSG and the SDSN, through which we aim to develop applied research and knowledge products that support sustainable development pathways and the strengthening of their financing. This collaboration also helps governments align their financial systems with long-term development objectives. We strongly believe that effective policies begin with accurate knowledge and that international cooperation is essential for building more resilient and sustainable Arab economies.”

Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, President of the SDSN: “In our experience, no region in the world is trying harder to achieve the SDGs than the Arab region. Leaders throughout the region deserve kudos for these ardent efforts.  Nonetheless, the Arab region faces many deep challenges.  The first and most urgent is peace.  The wars in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Iran, Yemen, and beyond have blocked economic development for hundreds of millions of people.  Regional peace depends first and foremost on a just settlement of the Palestinian cause. The region will also face deep challenges from global climate change and the worldwide energy transition.  These too require solutions both at the national and regional levels.  SDSN looks forward to working with the region on these great challenges, and in building upon the excellent SDG planning and implementation that is now underway.”
Dr. Fadi Salem, Director of Policy Research Department at the MBRSG, and co-author of the report said: "Our findings underscore the urgency for accelerated efforts, primarily towards advancing SDG 16, related peace, justice and building strong institutions. This would be a critical lever for improvements across all goals in the Arab region.”

Meanwhile, Lama Zakzak, Research Fellow at the MBRSG and lead author of the report, said: “The Arab region faces critical hurdles in environmental sustainability, particularly regarding SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Despite recent efforts in scaling renewables, persistent reliance on fossil fuels for energy generation hinders decarbonization, while severe freshwater stress threatens long-term security. Accelerating renewable energy deployment and sustainable water management is essential to meeting these global goals and ensuring regional resilience.”

The report highlighted gradual improvements in the performance of national statistical systems across the Arab region. However, it also emphasises ongoing data gaps, particularly in the areas of SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), due to the lack of data on income and wealth distribution. This underscores the need to strengthen investment in statistical infrastructure to support evidence-based decision-making.
The Arab Region SDG Index and Dashboards 2026 is an essential tool for policymakers and stakeholders, aimed at addressing development gaps and promoting a sustainable and resilient future for generations to come. This resource demonstrates the commitment of the School and its partners to enhancing the importance of knowledge in public policy formulation and supporting regional initiatives for inclusive and sustainable development throughout the Arab world. The report can be downloaded from: https://arabsdgindex.com/