Middle East Air Quality Alert: Baghdad and Dubai face extreme pollution – IQAir

Air Quality Assessment in Baghdad and Dubai: A Sustainable Development Goals Perspective

A report on air quality conditions as of August 1, 2025, indicates a severe environmental and public health crisis in Baghdad, Iraq, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The hazardous levels of atmospheric pollutants represent a significant setback for achieving key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to health, sustainable cities, and climate action.

Critical Air Pollution Levels and Public Health Impacts

Violation of SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The recorded air quality data reveals conditions that directly undermine SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. The health of millions of residents is at risk due to exposure to hazardous particulate matter.

• Baghdad, Iraq: Ranked as the world’s most polluted major city, with PM2.5 concentrations exceeding 100 µg/m³. This level is classified as “Hazardous” and poses a serious and immediate health threat to the entire population.
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Ranked as the fourth most polluted major city globally, with PM2.5 levels of 73 µg/m³. This concentration falls within the “Unhealthy” range, posing significant risks, especially for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions.

Challenges to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The extreme air pollution in these major urban centers highlights a failure to meet the targets of SDG 11, which calls for making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The inability to manage air quality renders these urban environments unsafe for their inhabitants.

Analysis of Pollution Sources and Environmental Drivers

The causes of the air quality crisis are multifaceted, involving a combination of industrial practices, energy policies, and environmental degradation, which conflict with several SDGs.

Case Study: Baghdad, Iraq

The situation in Baghdad is driven by factors that challenge progress on SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

• Environmental Factors: Intense and frequent sandstorms, which are exacerbated by climate change and desertification, contribute significantly to high PM2.5 levels. This directly relates to the urgent need for climate action (SDG 13) and efforts to combat desertification (SDG 15).
• Energy and Industrial Factors: A reliance on inefficient and polluting energy sources, such as heavy fuel oil for brick kilns, asphalt factories, and private power generators, releases toxic pollutants. This dependence underscores a critical gap in achieving access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy as outlined in SDG 7.

Case Study: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

In Dubai, the sources of pollution are closely linked to patterns of urban development and industrialization, posing challenges to SDG 7 and SDG 11.

• Urban and Industrial Emissions: Key contributors include emissions from dense vehicular traffic, industrial activities, and energy-intensive desalination plants. These sources reflect a fossil fuel-based economy that is at odds with the clean energy transition promoted by SDG 7.
• Climatic Conditions: High summer temperatures exceeding 40°C, combined with high humidity, facilitate chemical reactions that form ground-level ozone. This secondary pollutant further degrades urban air quality, compounding the risks to public health and urban sustainability (SDG 3 and SDG 11).

Official Advisories and Safety Recommendations

Current Alert Status

While no formal evacuation orders have been issued, authorities have released significant health warnings in response to the hazardous conditions.

• In Baghdad, the air quality is designated as being in the “red zone,” prompting the U.S. Embassy to issue a warning about acute health risks for all residents.
• In Dubai, authorities have advised the public to limit outdoor activities, a measure aimed at mitigating the immediate health impacts and supporting the well-being objective of SDG 3.

Recommended Protective Measures for Public Health and Safety

To mitigate exposure and protect personal health in alignment with SDG 3, the following actions are recommended:

1. Monitor real-time air quality data through official channels or applications.
2. Avoid outdoor activities, especially strenuous exercise.
3. Keep windows and doors closed to prevent polluted air from entering indoor spaces.
4. Utilize high-efficiency air purifiers indoors.
5. Wear a high-quality, certified pollution mask (e.g., N95, FFP2) if outdoor exposure is unavoidable.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on air quality in the Middle East directly and indirectly addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by highlighting the severe environmental and health challenges faced by cities like Baghdad and Dubai.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is central to the article. The text explicitly states that the air quality conditions are “dangerous for all residents, particularly vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues.” It also mentions the U.S. Embassy warning of “health risks for all residents,” directly linking air pollution to adverse health outcomes.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article’s focus is on the urban environments of Baghdad and Dubai, which are ranked as the “world’s most polluted major city” and fourth most polluted, respectively. The discussion revolves around the environmental quality within these cities, caused by factors like industrial activity, vehicle emissions, and waste burning, which are key concerns for urban sustainability.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  This goal is connected through the article’s explanation of the causes of poor air quality. It states that in Baghdad, frequent sandstorms are “worsened by desertification and climate change.” This establishes a direct link between climate-related phenomena and the immediate air quality crisis.

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The article implies challenges related to this goal by identifying energy sources as a major cause of pollution. In Baghdad, the “reliance on heavy fuel oil for… private generators, due to unreliable electricity” points to a lack of clean and reliable energy. In Dubai, “fossil fuel-based industries” are cited as a primary culprit, highlighting the dependence on non-clean energy sources.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified as being directly relevant.

1. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

   The article directly relates to this target by describing the air in Baghdad as “hazardous” due to PM2.5 levels exceeding 100 µg/m³. The mention of health risks and warnings for residents underscores the threat of illness and death from air pollution.

2. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

   This is the most prominent target. The entire article is an assessment of the adverse environmental impact of Baghdad and Dubai, with a specific focus on air quality. The ranking of these cities as globally polluted and the identification of causes like “waste burning” directly align with the objectives of this target.

3. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

   The article connects to this target by identifying sandstorms, which are “worsened by desertification and climate change,” as a major contributor to poor air quality. This highlights a vulnerability to climate-related hazards that directly impacts the well-being of the urban population.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article explicitly provides quantitative data that serves as a key indicator for measuring progress.

• Indicator 11.6.2: Annual mean concentration of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted).

  This is the primary indicator used throughout the article. Specific measurements are provided:

  • Baghdad: “PM2.5 levels exceeding 100 µg/m³”
  • Dubai: “PM2.5 levels reaching 73 µg/m³”

  The article also mentions the Air Quality Index (AQI) and its classifications (“hazardous,” “unhealthy”), which are directly derived from PM2.5 concentration levels. These measurements are crucial for tracking the severity of urban air pollution and assessing progress towards Targets 3.9 and 11.6.

• Implied Indicators

  While not providing quantitative data, the article implies the need to measure other factors related to the causes of pollution. These include:

  • The proportion of energy generated from fossil fuels versus clean sources (related to SDG 7).
  • The volume of industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust (related to SDG 11).
  • The amount of municipal waste disposed of through open burning (related to SDG 11).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: iqair.com