THE Arab world is reaching a breaking point as record-shattering heatwaves, deepening droughts, and escalating climate disasters sweep across the region, according to a new assessment by the World Meteorological Organisation( WMO) and partner UN agencies.

Covering 22 nations from the Middle East to North Africa and the Horn of Africa, the region is now warming at nearly double the global rate. The latest climate assessment shows temperatures soaring close to 2 ° C above the 1961 – 1990 baseline, with extreme weather events in 2024 affecting 3.8 million people and contributing to more than 300 deaths, mostly from heatwaves and floods.

WMO secretary-general Celeste Saulo issued a stark warning: prolonged spells of 50 ° C heat— recorded in several Arab countries— are pushing human and ecological systems beyond their capacity to cope.

“ Human health, ecosystems and economies cannot withstand extended periods above 50 ° C— it is simply too hot to handle,” she said.

The report highlights a dramatic surge in climate-related disasters— an 83 % increase in documented events between 1980 – 1999 and 2000 – 2019. Severe droughts are tightening their grip, particularly across western North Africa, where six consecutive rainy seasons have failed. The region is also home to 15 of the world’ s most waterscarce countries, amplifying pressures on agriculture, urban systems and social stability.

Heatwaves, intensified by longterm warming trends, have become more frequent, longer-lasting and more dangerous. Floods triggered by erratic rainfall patterns have added another layer of vulnerability in countries with ageing infrastructure and limited adaptation finance.

The findings land at a politically sensitive moment. At COP30, Arab nations— led by Saudi Arabia— resisted language and proposals aimed at phasing down fossil fuels. While the burning of oil and gas remains the region’ s primary economic driver, many governments are also rolling out

renewable energy ventures, particularly solar and wind. Yet, the pace and scale of transition remain slow relative to the climate risks at hand.

Last year marked the hottest year ever recorded globally, and 2025 is on track to be among the top three warmest. This is despite early indications of a La Niña cycle, which generally has a cooling effect on global temperatures. The WMO now projects a 55 per cent likelihood of a weak La Niña developing in the coming months, though its

moderating influence is expected to be limited.

With intensifying heat, worsening water scarcity, and rising climate shocks, the Arab region stands at a critical juncture. Without accelerated adaptation measures and a decisive shift toward low-carbon development, scientists warn that the next decade could bring even more severe consequences— for livelihoods, food systems, ecosystems, and long-term regional stability. – @ green