ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/CL5.SDGS/2025/Factsheet.1
Country: Arab region, Kingdom of Bahrain, Arab Republic of Egypt, Republic of Iraq, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, State of Kuwait, Kingdom of Morocco, Sultanate of Oman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Yemen
Publication Type: Information material
Cluster: 2030 Agenda and SDG Coordination
Focus Area: 2030 Agenda
Initiatives: Monitoring Sustainable Development Goal Data, Reducing inequalities, Arab Forum for Sustainable Development, Voluntary reporting on the 2030 Agenda, Partnerships for Agenda 2030
SDGs: Agenda 2030, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Keywords: Arab countries, Bahrain, Bank loans, Businesswomen, Development finance, Egypt, Financial inclusion, Financial institutions, Financial services, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Private sector, Public sector, Resources mobilization, Saudi arabia, Small and medium enterprises, Surveys, Sustainable development, Yemen, Youth
Survey on credit mobilized for the Sustainable Development Goals by Arab banks 2024
December 2025
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes the key role of financial institutions in advancing sustainable development and financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recognizing the importance of mobilizing financing for sustainability, and to better understand how banks in the Arab region are aligning with the SDGs, the Union of Arab Banks, in collaboration with the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), launched a survey on credit mobilized for the SDGs.
The present factsheet summarizes the findings of the pilot survey covering SDG-related credit, and credit to micro, small and medium enterprises owned by women and to businesses owned by young people in 2024. It also investigates the role of the Government and other stakeholders in risk-sharing, and the availability of sustainability-linked financial products and services.
Related content
2030 Agenda
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes the key role of financial institutions in advancing sustainable development and financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recognizing the importance of mobilizing financing for sustainability, and to better understand how banks in the Arab region are aligning with the SDGs, the Union of Arab Banks, in collaboration with the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), launched a survey on credit mobilized for the SDGs.
The present factsheet summarizes the findings of the pilot survey covering SDG-related credit, and credit to micro, small and medium enterprises owned by women and to businesses owned by young people in 2024. It also investigates the role of the Government and other stakeholders in risk-sharing, and the availability of sustainability-linked financial products and services.
