Overview
- The inaugural State of the Climate in the Arab Region spans 22 countries and reports 2024 temperatures averaging 1.08°C above the 1991–2020 baseline, with Algeria highest at 1.64°C above the 30‑year average.
- Heatwaves are lengthening and intensifying, with episodes above 50°C, while six failed rainy seasons deepened drought in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia and extreme downpours triggered flash floods in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE.
- More than 300 people died in 2024 from heat and floods and nearly 3.8 million were affected, with the report noting the toll is likely undercounted because of data gaps.
- About 60% of Arab countries have multi-hazard early-warning systems, and the report calls for expanded coverage alongside investments in desalination and wastewater reuse to strengthen water security.
- IPCC-linked projections cited by the WMO indicate potential warming of up to 5°C by 2100 under current emissions, posing escalating risks to coastal cities and regional food production.