The State of Mental Health in the Middle East

While mental health awareness is on the rise, the Middle East faces some challenges in providing care. Still, we're seeing some progress.

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Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, a 2024 analysis report by Knight Frank shows that a higher proportion of the population of the Middle East is suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder due to political unrest in various parts of the region. Meanwhile, GCC countries are showing notable progress, with the mental health market projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2024 to 2032, according to the IMARC Group. This is driven by increased awareness, government policies and programs, healthcare reforms, and professional development and training.

Despite progress, investment in mental health across the region remains insufficient. Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar spend less than the Lancet Commission’s recommended proportion of their national healthcare budget on mental health according to the 2023 Economist Impact’s Mental Health in the Middle East report. Nevertheless, all GCC countries have a mental health policy or plan, though there is significant variance in how effectively these policies are implemented.

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