Achieving sustainable development in the Arab region faces structural barriers that are often shared among the 22 Arab countries, despite variations in income level, natural resources, and demographic profiles. Transformative change in the Arab region entails dismantling those barriers to unleash the existing potential of its people, and to meet the ambition of its commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The present report charts the regional trajectory for achieving the 2030 Agenda, and analyses where the region stands on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It offers a quantitative and qualitative analysis of each SDG in relation to the global indicator framework adopted by the General Assembly in 2017. Mobilizing ESCWA interdisciplinary knowledge, the expertise of regional United Nations entities and a group of esteemed experts, it highlights SDG interlinkages, examines the main barriers to achievement, sheds light on those most at risk of being left behind, and identifies the most critical entry points for moving forward. The findings urge structural changes across social, economic, political, cultural and environmental dimensions, and illustrate the possibilities for regional transformation.

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