During the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), the international community has refined the definition of the green economy to make it more balanced, flexible and effective. In this new approach, green economy is defined by local, national and regional needs and priorities rather than being a top-down economic model. Thus, there is no single interpretation of the green economy, but rather various green economies.

This study reflects the progress of the Arab region in adopting and implementing green economy policies, and achievements in different sectors. It identifies various challenges and highlights potential opportunities for countries in the region to green their economies. While underlining the specificities of the region, it presents indicators to monitor the transition towards a green economy and focuses on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) given that they are a substantial economic force.