Bronte Wells
The Middle East is one of the most polluted regions in the world, with cities in Iran and Saudi Arabia having the worst air pollution in the region. According to the 2022 World Air Quality Report, Baghdad, Iraq is the most polluted city in the Middle East, with a 75% increase in pollution levels from 2021 to 2022. Other cities in the region with high levels of pollution include Manama in Bahrain, Dhahran in Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait City in Kuwait. The main sources of pollution in the Middle East are the transport, electricity production, and manufacturing sectors, with a particular reliance on fossil fuels contributing to high levels of NO2 emissions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| City with the most pollution in the Middle East | Baghdad, Iraq |
| Baghdad's increase in pollution | 75% increase from 49.7 μg/m3 to 86.7 μg/m3 |
| Iraq's annual average PM2.5 reading in 2022 | 80.1 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m3) |
| Middle Eastern cities with high pollution | Manama, Bahrain; Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Ras Al Khaimah, UAE; Ash Shihaniyah, Qatar; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Cairo, Egypt; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Dubai, UAE |
| Causes of pollution in the Middle East | Transport, electricity production, manufacturing sectors, industrial emissions, vehicle emissions, sandstorms, drought, cement plants, oil refineries, power stations |
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What You'll Learn
Baghdad, Iraq, is the most polluted city in the Middle East
Baghdad, Iraq's capital, is the most polluted city in the Middle East. It is also among the cities with the most toxic air quality worldwide. The city's air pollution is attributed to various factors, including illegal smelting operations, the use of high-sulphur oil in power generation, unregulated waste dumping, and car exhaust.
The country's economy has long relied on fossil fuels, and Iraq has some of the world's largest oil reserves. Successive wars have also destroyed the country's energy infrastructure, resulting in the use of diesel generators, which produce significantly more pollution. The burning of solid waste and emissions from brick factories, which also use high-sulphur fuel, further contribute to the city's poor air quality.
Baghdad's air pollution has severe health implications for its residents. The city's PM2.5 pollution levels are comparable to the air quality in California during the peak of the wildfire season. These fine particles can penetrate deep into the respiratory tract and lungs, causing and exacerbating respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
The Iraqi government has acknowledged the severity of the problem. The Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, appointed a special investigative committee to address the issue. The Ministry of Health and Environment is also working on a "comprehensive strategy" to enhance environmental awareness and mitigate pollution. However, critics argue that there is a lack of government policies and enforcement of environmental regulations.
The future outlook for Baghdad's air quality is concerning. Iraq's environment ministry predicts that the country will experience an increasing number of sandstorms due to water shortages, further deteriorating air quality. Within the next few decades, parts of Iraq, including Baghdad, are expected to become uninhabitable due to the combined effects of pollution and global warming.
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Manama, Bahrain, is the second most polluted
The Middle East is among the worst-polluted regions in the world, with concentrations of harmful pollutants increasing as economic activity returns to pre-pandemic levels. The region's reliance on fossil fuels, particularly oil, is a significant contributor to air pollution. The burning of fossil fuels releases NO2, a dangerous pollutant, into the atmosphere.
In 2022, Iraq and Bahrain were among the top 10 Middle Eastern nations for air pollution. Baghdad, Iraq, was the region's most polluted city, with a 75% increase in pollution levels from 2021 to 2022. Manama, Bahrain, was the second most polluted city in the Middle East.
Bahrain has some of the most polluted cities in the region, with Hamad Town and Ma'ameer being the most polluted urban areas in the country. Industrial and vehicle emissions, sandstorms, and drought are the leading causes of air pollution in Bahrain. The discovery of oil in Bahrain in 1932 led to rapid modernisation, which negatively impacted the country's air quality.
To address the air pollution crisis in the Middle East, countries must transition to renewable energy sources and reduce the number of internal combustion vehicles on the road. These changes are necessary to improve air quality and protect the health of citizens, as air pollution causes allergies, respiratory diseases, and premature deaths.
While some Middle Eastern countries have made efforts to address pollution, such as the UAE's pledge to mobilise AED1 trillion in sustainable finance by 2030, more urgent action is needed to mitigate the health and environmental impacts of air pollution in the region.
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Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, is third
The Middle East is known for having some of the worst air pollution in the world. According to the 2022 World Air Quality Report, the region's most polluted city is Baghdad, Iraq, which saw a nearly 75% increase in pollution levels from 2021 to 2022. Iraq was hit by 10 sandstorms in just two months last year, resulting in 5,000 hospitalisations. The country's environment ministry warns that Iraq could face an average of 272 days of sandstorms per year over the next two decades, rising to over 300 by 2050.
Following Baghdad, Manama in Bahrain is the second most polluted city in the Middle East. Bahrain has some of the most polluted cities in the region, with Hamad Town being the most polluted urban area in the country. The leading causes of air pollution in Bahrain include industrial and vehicle emissions, sandstorms, and drought.
Other cities in the top ten include Kuwait City in Kuwait, Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE, Ash Shihaniyah in Qatar, Abu Dhabi in the UAE, Cairo in Egypt, and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. These cities and countries in the Middle East face significant challenges in addressing air pollution, with economic activity returning to pre-pandemic levels and the region's reliance on fossil fuels.
To tackle air pollution in the Middle East, there is a need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources and reduce the number of internal combustion vehicles. Additionally, implementing environmental policies and regulations can help control pollution levels.
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Middle Eastern cities feature in the most polluted rankings
The Middle East is one of the most polluted regions in the world, with several of its cities featuring in the most polluted rankings. According to the 2022 World Air Quality Report, the following Middle Eastern cities are among the top 10 most polluted cities in the region: Baghdad (Iraq), Manama (Bahrain), Dhahran (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait City (Kuwait), Ras Al Khaimah (UAE), Ash Shihaniyah (Qatar), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Cairo (Egypt), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), and Dubai (UAE).
Baghdad, the most polluted city in the region, showed a nearly 75% increase in pollution levels from 2021 to 2022, with an annual average PM2.5 reading of 80.1 microgrammes per cubic metre in 2022, up from 49.7 the previous year. Iraq was hit by 10 sandstorms in just two months in 2021, resulting in 5,000 people requiring hospital treatment. The country's environment ministry predicts that Iraq could experience an average of 272 days of sandstorms per year over the next two decades, rising to over 300 by 2050, further exacerbating the country's air pollution challenges.
Other Middle Eastern cities that have been noted for their high levels of air pollution include Jounieh in Lebanon, which ranked 23rd in the world for NO2 air pollution. Greenpeace identified eight Middle Eastern cities among the most polluted in the world in terms of NO2 emissions, highlighting the region's reliance on dirty oil and the impact of the transport, electricity production, and manufacturing sectors.
The urban communities of the Middle East face significant climate change effects, including increases in average temperature, deviations from normal rain patterns, sea-level rise, and a greater number of extreme weather events. The capital cities of the region have been ranked among the top 50 most polluted cities in the world, with Manama, Muscat, and Baghdad reaching the top 10.
To address the air pollution crisis in the Middle East, a transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources is essential. Reducing the number of internal combustion passenger cars and promoting electric-powered transportation can also help mitigate the region's air quality issues.
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Causes of pollution in the Middle East
The Middle East is known to be one of the most polluted regions in the world. The 2022 World Air Quality Report lists Iraq, Bahrain, Chad, Pakistan, and Bangladesh as the top five most polluted countries in the Middle East. Baghdad, Iraq, is the most polluted city in the region, with a 75% increase in pollution levels in 2022.
There are several causes of pollution in the Middle East, and the contributing factors to high pollution levels in the region are quite diverse. Firstly, the Middle East has a unique combination of pollutants present at abundant concentrations, which distinguishes it from other areas of the world. While it was previously believed that natural dust was the primary contributor to air pollution in the region, recent studies have revealed that anthropogenic emissions are also significant factors. These human-caused particulate emissions, largely from combustion engines, electricity production, and manufacturing, induce a radiative forcing equivalent to that of natural dust.
The Middle East's urban communities face some of the most challenging climate change effects, including increases in average temperature, deviations from normal rain patterns, sea-level rise, and more frequent extreme weather events. The region's rapid urbanization, with a current urbanization rate of 64%, is a key driver of urban pollution. The structure of domestic economies and limited environmental regulations also play a role in the region's pollution levels. For example, low gasoline prices in the Middle East encourage the use of passenger cars over public transportation, contributing to higher emissions.
Another factor contributing to pollution in the Middle East is the region's reliance on fossil fuels, particularly oil. This has been described as an "addiction to dirty oil," and the combustion of fossil fuels for electricity production and transportation is a major source of NO2 emissions. The transport, electricity production, and manufacturing sectors are the main sources of NO2 pollution in the Middle East.
The health impacts of air pollution in the Middle East are significant. Fine particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) can penetrate deeply into the lungs and bloodstream, causing adverse health effects. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to increased mortality, with an estimated 152,925 total deaths in the nine most populated countries in the Middle East. The relative risk of mortality was highest in Saudi Arabia, where annual median PM2.5 concentrations reached 108 μg/m3 in 2012.
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Frequently asked questions
Baghdad, Iraq, is the most polluted city in the Middle East. It showed a nearly 75% increase in pollution last year, going from 49.7 μg/m3 to 86.7 μg/m3.
Manama, Bahrain, is the second most polluted city in the Middle East.
Other highly polluted cities in the Middle East include Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Ras Al Khaimah, UAE; Ash Shihaniyah, Qatar; and Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The main sources of pollution in the Middle East are transport, electricity production, and manufacturing. More specifically, the primary causes of pollution in Middle Eastern cities include cement plants, oil refineries, power stations, and vehicle emissions.
