The aim of this article is to study the impact of institutional quality on economic growth in the MENA region in particular, and to identify certain institutional shortcomings. We proceeded by estimating GMM in a system on cross-sectional data for a sample of 18 countries over the period 1984-2023. The results show that political stability has a positive direct effect, as well as a positive indirect effect through the positive accumulation of human and physical capital, and a negative effect through income inequality. Corruption thus has a negative impact on economic growth, on the one hand through a reduction in human and physical capital, trade openness and political stability, and on the other through an increase in inflation and public spending. Democracy has a negative impact on economic growth through increased human capital, political stability and trade openness, while income inequality, government spending and physical capital contribute to its reduction.

Traditional irrigation knowledge for sustainable water resource management in arid Environments: Insights from the MENA region

Determinants of climate change disclosure in the MENA region: Insights from CDP companies

A Pathway to Food and Energy Security: Agrivoltaic Potential in the MENA Region

This paper aims to investigate the causal links that may exist between foreign direct investment, poverty and environmental quality and this study is particularly relevant for a set of countries in the MENA region. By performing an estimation for a simultaneous equation model using the the Three-Stage Least Squares (3SLS) technique for the period from 1996 to 2022, the results reveal a bidirectional causality between poverty and CO2 emissions. Notably, a unidirectional causal relationship emerges, with CO2 emissions influencing poverty without any feedback mechanism. However, no evidence of a significant relationship between FDI and poverty is found.

Purpose The MENA region is highly vulnerable to climate change and faces severe environmental, political and economic challenges. To combat these challenges, carbon neutrality serves as a key mitigation strategy. This study examines the factors influencing central banks in the MENA region to adopt a pledge for carbon neutrality. Design/methodology/approach This study analyzes 20 MENA central banks, comparing 11 NGFS members with 9 non-members. A comparative analysis using FsQCA software version 3.0 is employed to identify the sufficient and necessary conditions contributing to the outcome of a carbon neutrality pledge. Findings The study develops a model for MENA central banks’ carbon neutrality pledges, identifying political factors and low demographics as core conditions. Environmental, economic, negated environmental and negated economic factors serve as peripheral conditions. No single factor was identified as a necessary condition. Practical implications The study may help shape policies by guiding policymakers in promoting carbon neutrality among central banks in the MENA region, addressing barriers, and enhancing sustainable financial strategies. This study identifies three distinct pathways to carbon neutrality pledges, offering a flexible framework for policymakers to design context-specific strategies based on national conditions. Originality/value This study uniquely examines the factors driving MENA central banks’ carbon neutrality pledges that have not been previously studied. It develops a model that distinguishes core and peripheral conditions, offering fresh insights for policymakers and financial institutions.

The applied literature on the MENA region remains fragmented between studies focused on the economic determinants of agricultural value added and climate and agriculture analyses via food security, without jointly assessing productive and climatic factors. This article fills that gap by measuring the combined effects of temperature, precipitation, capital, labor, and arable land on agricultural value added (VAAG) across 21 MENA countries over 1990–2024. We estimate a fixed effects model with cluster-robust standard errors and verify robustness using System GMM. The results indicate that rising temperatures are associated with a significant decline in VAAG, whereas moderate and regular rainfall, as well as endowments of capital, labor, and arable land, exert positive effects. Theoretically, the study highlights, over a long horizon and a reasonably homogeneous regional scope, the differentiated roles of thermal constraints and water availability, with inference strengthened by System GMM as a robustness check. Operationally, the findings support policies for efficient irrigation, decentralized storage, and managed aquifer recharge, alongside financial incentives and training to accelerate the adoption of resilient techniques, while safeguarding arable land. Together, these measures provide concrete levers to strengthen agricultural resilience in the MENA region.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effectiveness of a school-based physical activity (PA) education intervention, informed by Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), on improving PA, knowledge, and self-efficacy among Jordanian adolescents. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 210 eighth-grade students from four public schools in Jordan, who were randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group (Registration number: NCT05039294). The intervention consisted of a four-week structured program focused on goal setting, peer collaboration, and teacher-facilitated learning. Pre- and post-intervention assessments measured PA levels, self-efficacy, and knowledge. At baseline, both groups were comparable. Following the intervention, the intervention group showed greater improvements in all outcomes, particularly in knowledge and physical activity. Significant time, group, and interaction effects confirmed the positive impact of the program. Self-efficacy was the strongest predictor of PA. The findings support the implementation of SCT-based, culturally tailored school programs to promote sustainable physical activity behaviors among adolescents, particularly in the MENA region. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05039294.

BackgroundGrowing evidence suggests that gut microbiota plays a role in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC), and a few bacterial strains have been linked to carcinogenesis. Contrary to the Western population, the relationship between pro-cancer microorganisms and CRC among Middle Eastern individuals remains largely unexplored. Ninety-eight samples from Middle Eastern individuals with and without CRC were subjected to microbial profiling based on the 16S rRNA gene.ResultsThe CRC group exhibited a more complex gut microbiota with clusters that were significantly distinct from those of the control group. The taxonomic orders Caulobacterales, Rhizobiales, Sphingomonadales, and Burkholderiales, along with the genera Recibecterium and Sphingobium, were overrepresented in the CRC samples based on differential abundance testing between the CRC and control groups. Utilizing 16S-based functional prediction, we identified a significant enrichment of pathways vital for pentose and glucuronate interconversions, metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides, spliceosome, and dTMP kinase pathways within the CRC group. Moreover, we observed a link between Herbaspirillum huttiense and the pathways regulating the actin cytoskeleton; this intriguing connection may provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying cytoskeletal rearrangement and carcinogenesis triggered by H. huttiense.ConclusionsThe findings of this study support the connection between gut microbiota and the development of CRC and highlight region-specific microbial signatures that may serve as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers or predictive tools for early screening in Middle Eastern populations, where CRC is increasingly diagnosed at advanced stages. These insights could inform the development of microbiome-based screening panels and personalized prevention strategies adapted to the MENA region’s unique genetic, dietary, and environmental profiles.

This study examines the role of financial literacy as a catalyst for women’s economic empowerment in the MENA region, focusing on its impact on financial performance through the mediating effects of autonomy and family support, as well as the moderating effects of male partners and employment type. Drawing on data from 515 women professionals across five MENA countries, the research employs Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine both direct and indirect relationships among key variables. The findings reveal that financial literacy significantly enhances financial performance, primarily by fostering greater autonomy in financial decision-making. While parental and spousal support also contribute, their mediating effects are comparatively weaker. Moreover, the relationship between financial literacy and autonomy is moderated by employment type and the presence of male partners, with employed women and those in collaborative environments experiencing stronger gains in autonomy. These results underscore the importance of targeted financial education and autonomy-enhancing policies to support women’s economic advancement in culturally complex and economically volatile contexts. The study contributes to the literature on gender and development economics by offering empirical evidence from an under-researched region and provides actionable insights for policymakers, educators, and organizations aiming to promote inclusive economic growth.

AI systems, such as ChatGPT, often face challenges when using language in ways that fit social and cultural contexts, especially when making requests. While these models are strong in grammar and meaning, they frequently face challenges in capturing social and cultural aspects, leading to misunderstandings. To explore this issue, two frameworks were used: Taguchi’s Pragmatic Appropriateness Model and Brown and Levinson's Politeness Theory. A mixed-methods approach compared AI and human responses to specific scenarios testing power, familiarity, and obligation. The findings reveal common problems, such as AI being overly formal in casual situations, misusing honorifics, mixing dialects, and misunderstanding context. These issues highlight the need for AI to better adapt to social and cultural differences, particularly in diverse environments. Integrating linguistic theories into AI training can enhance its ability to comprehend context and establish trust with users. This research stated that AI struggles to adapt to social norms, especially in situations where making requests requires accuracy. Most concerns involve being too formal, using honorifics incorrectly, mixing dialects in unnatural ways, and misunderstanding the context. These results highlight the need to include sociolinguistic principles in AI training to improve its understanding of culture and context. Furthermore, the results of the current study can help AI developers and policymakers in the MENA region. Highlights The paper identifies specific pragmatic failures encountered by AI systems when processing Arabic, highlighting issues such as misinterpretation of context, cultural nuances, and idiomatic expressions that affect communication effectiveness. Through a detailed analysis of various communication scenarios, the study demonstrates how AI's inability to grasp social cues and contextual subtleties leads to misunderstandings, thereby impacting user experience and trust in AI applications. The paper offers actionable recommendations for enhancing AI's performance in Arabic, including the integrating culturally relevant training datasets, improving natural language processing algorithms, and emphasizing the importance of human-in-the-loop systems to mitigate pragmatic errors.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity in the 21st century, with far-reaching impacts on the environment, economy, and social well-being around the world. The research method used in this paper is normative legal research, also known as doctrinal legal research. International law has a key role in developing a global framework to address this issue through various legal instruments and multilateral agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. Responding to environmental crimes is largely the responsibility of government law enforcement and regulatory authorities, whether at the national, subnational, or municipal level. The main agents in environmental law enforcement in most parts of the world are police forces, customs and border protection agencies and environmental regulatory agencies. These organizations can create both opportunities and challenges. The effects of climate change, are beginning to impinge on the developed world. Europe has been experiencing increasing drought and fires in the Mediterranean region and up into Central Europe, while the Northern countries are experiencing increasing flooding. With the evident need for adaptation measures being increasingly realized in the developed world, international pressure focusing on global adaptation strategies might be starting. Without such international pressure and funds, majority of the less developed countries including those in the MENA region, will not be able to develop and implement comprehensive adaptation strategies. As the climate status of the region is expected to worsen, governments should shift their focus to enhancing their adaptative capacity if they want to see changes in climate vulnerability. A solution to increase capacity involves international support of community-level education and voice in national climate policy, international pressure, and more funding for adaptative infrastructure. If the international community and Middle Eastern countries adopt these strategies, the result might be more climate resilience in this uniquely vulnerable region.

Education can play a vital role in moderating the Financial Development (FD), Energy Consumption (EC), and the environment nexus as per the Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13. Thus, the aim of this research is to explore such linkages in the framework of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) in 15 MENA economies for the period 1999-2022. For this purpose, Cross-Sectional Dependence (CD) econometric techniques are applied. The CD is validated in the individual series and in the hypothesized models as well. The cointegration is also validated in the models. Moreover, the EKC is supported in the MENA region in the regression results. In the long and short run, FD and education reduce carbon emissions, and EC raises them. Moreover, education moderates the connection between FD and emissions. Thus, education helps to enhance the environmental benefits of FD. However, education could not moderate the impact of EC on emissions. These results suggest enhancing financial and environmental literacy to support a sustainable environment in the MENA region.

Abstract Assessing the solar energy potential in the MENA/Mediterranean regions is of paramount importance, especially considering the environmental and economic benefits of solar energy sources. By examining the potential specific to these regions, we can provide valuable insights into the feasibility and potential for solar energy development, contributing to the overall renewable energy assessment and development. This research provides a granular assessment of solar energy potential across the MENA and Mediterranean regions by developing a solar potential zoning framework based on advanced clustering techniques applied to NASA POWER data. Our analysis of Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) delineated eight distinct zones, revealing a significant spatial gradient in solar resource availability. Annual average GHI values range from 4.57 kWh/m 2 /day in Zone 4 to 6.46 kWh/m 2 /day in Zone 8. These GHI levels correspond to photovoltaic (PV) specific yields of 1,334 kWh/kWp/year and 1,886 kWh/kWp/year, respectively, with high-potential zones (2, 3, 6, and 8) exhibiting yields above 1,730 kWh/kWp/year, highlighting their economic attractiveness for PV deployment. Analysis of Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) identified nine zones, with the highest DNI levels observed in Zones 4, 1, and 8, exceeding 6.3 kWh/m 2 /day, which are particularly suitable for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technologies, offering annual generation per unit area up to 31% higher than lower DNI regions. The developed zoning maps and quantitative findings for strategic planning, guiding investment and policy towards maximizing solar energy adoption and contributing to the region's energy security and sustainability goals.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is among the most effective tools used for HIV prevention. Primary care providers (PCPs) play a crucial role in identifying people at risk and initiating care. There is a gap in research on PrEP use in the MENA region; this study aims to assess PCPs’ knowledge, familiarity with PrEP and willingness to prescribe it. An online survey targeted PCPs and infectious disease (ID) specialists across the MENA region, with most responses coming from Lebanon. Data included demographics, practice characteristics, perceived knowledge, familiarity with PrEP, willingness to prescribe it, and barriers. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were applied to compare groups. Seventy-five providers responded, sex ratio nearly 1:1, most being PCPs. ID specialists more often treated STIs and cared for people living with HIV than PCPs (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively). 40% rated themselves “somewhat unfamiliar/unfamiliar” with PrEP, and only 24% felt confident answering patients’ questions. While 73% were willing to prescribe PrEP, 64% had never done so. More PCPs (78.3%) than ID specialists (19.6%) had never prescribed PrEP (p = 0.005). Barriers to prescribing PrEP included lack of knowledge, financial coverage (p < 0.001), governmental policy regulating PrEP use (p < 0.001), and counselling time (all p < 0.001). Findings highlight significant gaps in knowledge and practice, particularly among PCPs, despite high willingness to prescribe. Coordinated efforts involving education, policy, and financial support are essential to expand PrEP implementation in the region.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-21365-z.

ABSTRACT Digitalization has far-reaching yet under-researched impacts on state–society relations. This article addresses this gap and explores digitalization as a driver of change to social contracts. The conceptual framework explains how it changes (a) the state’s duty to grant protection, provision, and participation in exchange for legitimacy; (b) the modes of state–society interaction; and (c) the contracting parties with respect to their location and their relative power position. Based on a literature review and recent developments in digitalization, the article then discusses how this plays out in the MENA region. It shows that digital surveillance by authoritarian regimes often dominates over the states’ duty to protect their citizens. Spaces for political participation increase through social media and online platforms but often fail to translate into ‘offline’ mobilization. Digitalization can improve public service provision, but only for digitally-connected citizens. Thus, digitalization tends to enhance the relative power positions of MENA states even if states themselves partly depend on external actors for access to and control over digital technologies. Overall, digitalization is an important, structural driver of change to social contracts but pre-existing state–society relations and governance framework conditions lead to either more inclusive or rather more authoritarian social contracts.

Revisiting the environmental resource curse in MENA: Do export diversification and renewable energy matter?

BackgroundAcademic thriving encompasses students’ cognitive engagement, emotional well-being, and sense of belonging. The educational environment plays a vital role in supporting thriving, particularly in the demanding context of medical education. Limited multinational data exists on how educational environments influence thriving in MENA region. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between the educational environment and academic thriving among medical students across Arabic-speaking countries, using validated assessment tools.MethodsA cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational design was employed. A total of 1,246 undergraduate medical students from five Arab countries participated in an online survey conducted between February and March 2025. The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) assessed perceptions of the educational environment, while the Thriving Quotient (TQ) evaluated students’ academic engagement and well-being. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, inferential tests, correlation, and regression analyses.ResultsParticipants reported generally positive perceptions of their educational environment (mean DREEM score: 113.79 ± 27.76) and moderate levels of thriving (Overall TQ mean was 95.38 ± 18.22). Strongest correlations with academic thriving were found in the domains of academic self-perception and social self-perception. Regression analysis revealed that educational environment variables explained 38.7% of the variance in thriving outcomes (p < 0.001). Socio-demographic variables, including gender, financial status, and awareness of student support services, significantly influenced both DREEM and TQ scores.ConclusionsThe educational environment plays a significant role in shaping academic thriving among medical students. Institutions should focus on improving academic support, fostering inclusive environments, and strengthening student-centered teaching strategies to enhance both learning and psychological outcomes.Clinical trial numberNot applicable.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-025-08053-2.

Abstract The escalating challenge of water scarcity, intensified by climate change and rapid population growth, necessitates innovative strategies for securing and enhancing water resources. This study emphasizes artificial recharge and seawater desalination as two sustainable solutions to this critical issue. Traditional surface recharge methods often face limitations, such as evaporative losses up to 40%, contamination risks, and significant land requirements exceeding 1 hectare per 100,000 m³ of recharge capacity. In contrast, drywells provide a compact and efficient alternative, typically requiring less than 20 m² of land per unit. Field applications and experimental studies indicate that well-designed drywells can achieve infiltration rates between 0.5 and 5.0 m³/h, with cumulative recharge volumes exceeding 10,000 m³/year per well under optimal hydrogeological conditions. Their effectiveness is significantly influenced by soil permeability (10⁻³ to 10⁻⁵ m/s) and vadose zone thickness, with recharge efficiencies reaching up to 80% when clogging is minimized. Operational protocols that include intermittent resting phases can maintain over 90% of initial infiltration capacity throughout multi-year operations. However, monitoring data reveal that urban runoff often introduces elevated nitrate concentrations (frequently above 50 mg/L) and heavy metals, highlighting the need for thorough pre-treatment or site-specific assessments. Numerical modeling tools are being utilized to simulate unsaturated flow, optimize well spacing, and predict long-term aquifer storage gains, achieving modeled recharge improvements of 15–25% compared to unoptimized designs. Concurrently, desalination technologies for seawater and brackish groundwater are increasingly incorporated into water supply strategies, particularly in arid and coastal regions facing severe freshwater shortages. Reverse osmosis systems have achieved energy consumption levels as low as 2.5–3.0 kWh/m³, significantly more efficient than thermal distillation methods, which consume 10–15 kWh/m³. However, the environmental concern of brine discharge remains significant. By integrating drywell recharge systems with desalination technologies and broader water management frameworks, this study outlines a scientific pathway for sustainable resource development. Modeling and pilot projects suggest that coupling desalination with managed recharge can reduce net energy consumption by up to 30%, enhance aquifer resilience, and mitigate salinization risks through the dilution of high-salinity groundwater with recharged freshwater. This review consolidates existing knowledge on drywell recharge and desalination technologies, highlighting their fundamental principles and key characteristics.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance has become a pivotal driver of firm valuation, investment flows, and capital market stability and a critical dimension of corporate sustainability and investor decision-making. Yet, emerging markets face structural barriers to standardized ESG measurement due to limited data availability and inconsistent disclosures. This study addresses this gap by developing a simplified, transparent and indicator-based ESG assessment model tailored to the Moroccan capital market using publicly available data from 20 companies listed in the MASI ESG Index on the Casablanca Stock Exchange. The framework evaluates 12 equally weighted indicators across environmental, social, and governance pillars, and employs the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) method, to generate firm-level ESG scores and rankings. In addition to equal-weighted rankings, the model was stress-tested using entropy-based and expert-informed weights. Results reveal a wide disparity in ESG maturity: while environmental reporting is relatively advanced, social and governance disclosures lag behind. Top-ranking firms align closely with international frameworks such as GRI, whereas others lack fundamental transparency. By offering a replicable, low-data ESG scoring method applicable to other emerging markets, this research provides actionable insights for investors, regulators, and corporate leaders. The findings contribute to the financial literature on ESG integration, support the design of sustainable investment strategies, and advance policy efforts to strengthen capital market resilience across the MENA region.