The Middle East and North Africa region ranks among the areas most acutely exposed to the physical consequences of a warming planet. Average temperatures across the region have risen at roughly twice the global mean rate over recent decades, according to assessments by the World Meteorological Organization and regional climate bodies. This trajectory is reshaping the conditions under which populations live, work, and access healthcare.
Heat Stress and Cardiovascular Burden
Extreme heat events have grown longer and more intense across countries including Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf states. Prolonged exposure to high ambient temperatures is associated with heat exhaustion and heatstroke — conditions characterized by elevated core body temperature, neurological disruption, and, in severe cases, multi-organ failure. Medical literature has also established links between chronic heat exposure and elevated cardiovascular and renal stress. Outdoor laborers, elderly populations, and residents of informal urban settlements face the highest degree of physiological exposure.
Water Scarcity and Waterborne Disease
Declining freshwater availability, driven by reduced precipitation and aquifer depletion, has increased reliance on lower-quality water sources in parts of the region. Waterborne diseases — including cholera, typhoid fever, and hepatitis A — are historically associated with compromised water and sanitation infrastructure. Climate-driven pressure on these systems has been documented in Yemen, parts of Egypt, and drought-affected areas of the Maghreb.
Vector-Borne Disease and Shifting Ecologies
Warmer and wetter conditions in certain subregions have expanded the geographic range of mosquito species capable of transmitting malaria, dengue fever, and leishmaniasis. The sand fly, a vector for leishmaniasis, has extended its presence into previously unsuitable altitudes and latitudes across the Levant and North Africa. Public health surveillance networks have recorded a corresponding shift in case distributions.
Air Quality and Respiratory Health
Higher temperatures intensify ground-level ozone formation and increase the frequency and severity of dust storms — a well-documented regional phenomenon. Prolonged exposure to particulate matter and ozone is associated with respiratory conditions including asthma exacerbation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Urban centers such as Cairo, Tehran, and Baghdad have recorded periods of air quality classified as hazardous under WHO reference guidelines.
Open Questions
The degree to which existing health systems across MENA can absorb compounding climate-related demand remains a subject of active research. Gaps persist in longitudinal data collection, cross-border disease surveillance coordination, and climate-health modeling specific to arid and semi-arid environments.
Sources: World Meteorological Organization (WMO), World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change.
This article was compiled with the support of advanced research technology, based on multiple verified sources, and reviewed by our editorial team. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, therapeutic or health advice. This article is not a substitute for professional diagnosis, consultation or treatment by qualified healthcare professionals.
