The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) launched the Arab Region SDG Index and Dashboards Report 2025 on the third day of the World Governments Summit.
The unveiling followed a keynote address by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, President of the UN SDSN.
The report provides an updated assessment of the Arab region’s progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering data-driven insights to enhance resilience and sustainability. Professor Sachs emphasized the region’s commitment to sustainable development, stating, “The Arab region is making an extraordinary effort to achieve the SDGs. This partnership with MBRSG ensures that the region will continue to lead in sustainable development efforts.”
The 2025 report evaluates 115 indicators across all 17 SDGs, assigning scores from zero to 100, along with a traffic-light system to indicate performance levels. A special chapter in this edition examines regional resilience from a sustainability perspective.
Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of MBRSG, highlighted the significance of the report, stating,
“As Knowledge Partner for the World Governments Summit 2025, we aim to provide concrete data and empirical evidence to support policymakers in addressing challenges and fostering sustainability.”
Key findings reveal an average regional SDG score of 60.5, with Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, and the UAE leading in progress. However, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and conflict-affected nations continue to face significant challenges. A new indicator measuring support for UN-based multilateralism shows that one-third of Arab countries have met this target.
Dr. Fadi Salem, Director of Policy Research at MBRSG, underscored the urgency of addressing SDG 16, which focuses on peace, justice, and strong institutions. Meanwhile, Principal Researcher Lama Zakzak noted advancements in SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), particularly in digital infrastructure and healthcare.
The report serves as a strategic tool for policymakers, stakeholders, and international organizations, guiding targeted interventions to drive sustainable progress.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
