Air pollution is no longer a silent threat; we casually acknowledge it has become a front-and-center global crisis with unprecedented clarity. After years of warnings, international institutions have placed air pollution firmly at the heart of the global agenda.
In 2025, the Global Risks Report by the World Economic Forum identified air pollution as one of the most serious threats facing the world today. In a move described as historic, the World Health Assembly adopted a roadmap last May aimed at halving deaths linked to air pollution by 2040.
This comes amid growing recognition by the United Nations General Assembly and the World Health Organization of air pollution as a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases.
Simply put, the world no longer treats air pollution as merely an environmental issue; it is now seen as a direct threat to human life. And it is crucial to remember that children bear the greatest burden, as they are the most vulnerable to a crisis they did not create.
2025 Report: Numbers That Cannot Be Ignored
The 2025 World Air Quality Report by IQAir revealed that despite growing global consensus, air quality deteriorated significantly over the past year. This decline was driven by extreme environmental factors, most notably climate change–intensified wildfires, which released approximately 1,380 megatons of carbon an alarming indicator of a worsening crisis.
The report, issued by the Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, analyzed data from 9,446 cities across 143 countries, relying primarily on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) as the key indicator of air quality.
These particles are among the most dangerous pollutants, generated largely by industrial activities. Their impact on human health and life expectancy exceeds that of smoking, alcohol consumption, road accidents, and even some infectious diseases.
According to the report, pollution is no longer confined to specific regions. Wildfires have elevated PM2.5 levels even in areas once considered relatively clean.
A Worsening Global Crisis
The report highlights a deepening global crisis: only 13 out of 143 countries met the World Health Organization’s air quality guidelines. In other words, around 91% of the countries analyzed are breathing polluted air that exceeds the safe global limit (less than 5 µg/m³ of PM2.5).
Among the least polluted countries were Estonia, Panama, Australia, Iceland, Puerto Rico, and Barbados.
At the other end of the spectrum, the most polluted countries included Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
At the city level, the situation has also worsened. The share of cities with safe air dropped from 17% in 2024 to just 14% in 2025, with India’s New Delhi ranking as the most polluted city in the world.
The Arab World: At the Eye of the Storm
According to the report, several Arab countries ranked among the most polluted globally, underscoring the scale of environmental challenges in the region.
Kuwait topped the list of Arab countries most affected by PM2.5 pollution, ranking seventh globally. It was followed by Egypt (ninth), Iraq (eleventh), the United Arab Emirates (thirteenth), and Bahrain (fourteenth worldwide).
In contrast, Morocco emerged as the least polluted Arab country, with an average PM2.5 concentration of around 9.6 µg/m³, ranking 100th out of 143 countries indicating relatively better air quality compared to others in the region.
This performance is attributed to a combination of natural factors, such as geographic diversity and wind patterns, alongside investments in renewable energy and efforts to reduce emissions despite ongoing challenges in certain cities.
Natural or Man-Made Pollution?
The report notes that West Asia comprising 14 countries, including nine Arab states (Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the UAE) continues to face levels of air pollution.
However, a significant portion of this pollution is not solely human-induced. Natural factors, particularly dust storms, play a major role. Several cities recorded sharp spikes in PM2.5 levels during intense dust waves in April, May, and November.
Conclusion: A Long Battle for Clean Air
The 2025 IQAir report serves as a stark warning: clean air is no longer an easy goal to achieve. It is a long and complex battle where nature, climate, and human activity intersect one that demands sustained, long-term policies rather than temporary solutions.
