Evaluating Progress Towards SDG 11 in the Arab Region: Achievements, Gaps, and Policy Implications for Sustainable Urban Development

While urbanization and city development foster economic growth, they simultaneously increase vulnerability to various climate change-related disasters. To combat the current and future challenges, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) aims to make cities and human settlements more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. While the global framework proposed by the United Nations serves as a guiding torch, localization of SDG indicators is necessary to create context-specific solutions. This study analyzes how Arab initiatives have translated the global targets and indicators of SDG 11 into locally relevant frameworks. The research employs a comparative and analytical methodology to investigate the adaptation of global urban sustainability indicators in the Arab region. The study examines the interplay between global, national, and local levels in the implementation of SDG 11 targets. The results advocate for the disaggregation of datasets related to urban, environmental, catastrophe risk, and conflict-affected contexts. The study also proposes a comparative framework for global and Arab initiatives that could serve as roadmaps for the challenges presented by urbanization.