Pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which has topped a list of countries with the most-polluted air in the world. EPA
Pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which has topped a list of countries with the most-polluted air in the world. EPA
Pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which has topped a list of countries with the most-polluted air in the world. EPA
Pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which has topped a list of countries with the most-polluted air in the world. EPA

Bangladesh, Pakistan and India have world's most-polluted air, report finds


Daniel Bardsley
  • English
  • Arabic

Bangladesh, Pakistan and India have the worst air pollution in the world, with concentrations of particulate matter more than 10 times the recommended maximum, a report has found.

The 2023 World Air Quality Report, released by air purifier company IQAir, found 124 of 134 countries analysed exceeded World Health Organisation guidelines for particulate matter up to 2.5 microns in size (PM2.5).

These tiny particles are regarded as some of the most dangerous air pollutants and are linked to often-fatal conditions such as lung cancer and heart disease.

Many Middle Eastern cities have high levels of PM2.5, including Baghdad and Cairo, which are the world's fifth and 10th polluted capitals, respectively.

The Gulf nations fared poorly in the ranking, with the UAE seventh-worst for air pollution and Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain all listed in the top 15. Meanwhile, fewer than 10 per cent of the countries or regions for which data was collected have pollution levels that adhere to WHO guidelines.

The report also found, however, that the PM2.5 concentration has fallen in the most polluted cities in West Asia, a region that includes the Middle East.

Aidan Farrow, a senior air-quality scientist at Greenpeace International, branded air pollution "a global health catastrophe" that required urgent action.

The report showed air pollution often had "inequitable consequences" and there was a "need to implement the many solutions that exist to this problem", he said.

Air-quality data saves lives. Where air quality is reported, action is taken and air quality improves
Frank Hammes,
IQAir’s global chief executive

"Local, national and international effort is urgently needed to monitor air quality in under-resourced places, manage the causes of transboundary haze and cut our reliance on combustion as an energy source," he said.

Ranked as the most-polluted country, Bangladesh has a PM2.5 concentration of 79.9 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre), which is more than 15 times the World Health Organisation’s recommended maximum of 5µg/m3. In Pakistan and India, the concentrations are 73.7 µg/m3 and 54.4 µg/m3, respectively.

Human-made and natural factors mean that areas spanning these three countries have, the report says, "the worst air pollution conditions in the world".

Brick kilns, the burning of agricultural waste, cremations and the use of solid fuel for cooking and heating contribute to the poor air quality.

Road transport is another key source of PM2.5 in South Asia and around the world.

New Delhi is classed as the world’s most-polluted capital, with a PM2.5 concentration of 92.7 µg/m3, followed by Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, with 80.2 µg/m3. Islamabad in Pakistan is the world’s ninth-most polluted capital, with 42.4 µg/m3.

Tajikistan in the neighbouring region of Central Asia is also highly polluted, with a concentration of 49.0 µg/m3, the fourth-highest in the world.

Other heavily polluted countries are, from fifth to 10th worldwide, Burkina Faso (46.6 µg/m3), Iraq (43.8 µg/m3), the UAE (43.0 µg/m3), Nepal (42.4 µg/m3), Egypt (also 42.4 µg/m3) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (40.8 µg/m3).

The UAE is not the only Gulf nation high on the list, with Kuwait in 11th place (39.9 µg/m3), Bahrain in 12th (39.2 µg/m3) and Qatar 13th (37.6 µg/m3).

The Emirates has taken steps to tackle pollution through the launch in 2022 of the UAE National Air Quality Agenda 2031.

Sandstorms are also a factor in increased PM levels in desert countries found in the Middle East.

A study of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, published in 2021 in the journal Science of the Total Environment, found that sandstorms were linked to increased PM levels and higher levels of ozone and CO.

While several of the world’s 20 most polluted capitals are in the Middle East, including Baghdad (45.8 µg/m3), Kuwait City (39.9 µg/m3), Manama (39.2 µg/m3), Abu Dhabi (38.2 µg/m3) and Doha (37.6 µg/m3), the report said pollution levels had fallen in West Asia’s nine most-polluted cities.

"In 2023, there is only one city with an annual average above 50 µg/m3, whereas there were five such cities in 2022," the report said.

Ras Al Khaimah is the most-polluted city in West Asia, with a PM2.5 concentration of 52.0 µg/m3, followed by Dhahran in Saudi Arabia (46.5 µg/m3), Baghdad, Dubai (43.6 µg/m3) and Kuwait City. The 10 least-polluted cities in the region, all in Israel, are typically much smaller.

Officials from Ras Al Khaimah, however, dispute the report, saying their own monitoring devices have measured particulate matter at far lower levels.

"Our national stations show the air quality index being 37 (good) and PM2.5 has a value of 25 µg/m3," Saif Al Ghais, director general of the Environment Protection and Development Authority in Ras Al Khaimah, told The National.

Other nations high on the most-polluted list are Indonesia, in 14th place, Rwanda (15th), Zimbabwe (16th), Ghana (17th), Kyrgyzstan (18th), China (19th) and Libya (20th).

The report uses PM2.5 readings from 30,000 air-quality monitoring stations at 7,812 sites in 134 nations or regions.

PM2.5 are considered among the most hazardous particulate pollution because their tiny size means they penetrate deep into the lungs and, the US Environmental Protection Agency reports, may enter the bloodstream.

The report also includes data for Mexico (46th with 20.1 µg/m3), Palestine (55th with 18.6 µg/m3), Israel (56th with 17.8 µg/m3), the Philippines (79th with 13.5 µg/m3), the US (102nd with 9.1 µg/m3) and the UK (112th with 7.7 µg/m3).

Africa is described as "the most under-represented continent" when it comes to air-quality monitoring.

"In many parts of the world the lack of air-quality data delays decisive action and perpetuates unnecessary human suffering," Frank Hammes, IQAir’s global chief executive, said in a statement.

"Air-quality data saves lives. Where air quality is reported action is taken, and air quality improves."

Only 10 of the 134 countries or regions analysed had pollution levels below the WHO recommended maximum, with many tending to be sparsely populated.

French Polynesia is the least polluted, with a PM2.5 concentration of 3.2 µg/m3, followed by Mauritius (3.5 µg/m3), Iceland (4.0 µg/m3), Grenada (4.1 µg/m3), Bermuda (also 4.1 µg/m3), New Zealand (4.3 µg/m3), Australia (4.5 µg/m3), Puerto Rico (4.5 µg/m3), Estonia (4.7 µg/m3) and Finland (4.9 µg/m3).

Climate tipping points - in pictures

  • An aerial shot of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, showing parts of the reef that has been subjected to coral bleaching.
    An aerial shot of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, showing parts of the reef that has been subjected to coral bleaching.
  • A house located on land that has been deformed by permafrost thaw at a former airfield in Churapcha, Russia. Reuters
    A house located on land that has been deformed by permafrost thaw at a former airfield in Churapcha, Russia. Reuters
  • Native vegetation has been cut down to give space for eucalyptus plantations in the Setubinha region in Brazil. AFP
    Native vegetation has been cut down to give space for eucalyptus plantations in the Setubinha region in Brazil. AFP
  • A large melt pool forms in the Ilulissat ice fjord below the Jakobshavn Glacier at the fringe of the Greenland ice sheet. AP
    A large melt pool forms in the Ilulissat ice fjord below the Jakobshavn Glacier at the fringe of the Greenland ice sheet. AP
  • Lake Erhai in China has become eutrophic (where an entire body of water becomes enriched with nutrients and minerals) which caused algal growth that destroyed other life. Photo: Ronan O'Connell
    Lake Erhai in China has become eutrophic (where an entire body of water becomes enriched with nutrients and minerals) which caused algal growth that destroyed other life. Photo: Ronan O'Connell
  • Deforestation in Para state, Brazil. AFP
    Deforestation in Para state, Brazil. AFP
  • Moai statues in Easter Island, Chile, were damaged after a wildfire. Reuters
    Moai statues in Easter Island, Chile, were damaged after a wildfire. Reuters

The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre

Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

360Vuz PROFILE

Date started: January 2017
Founder: Khaled Zaatarah 
Based: Dubai and Los Angeles
Sector: Technology 
Size: 21 employees
Funding: $7 million 
Investors: Shorooq Partners, KBW Ventures, Vision Ventures, Hala Ventures, 500Startups, Plug and Play, Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, Jonathan Labin

GAC GS8 Specs

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Roll of honour

Who has won what so far in the West Asia Premiership season?

Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain

Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons

West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles

West Asia Cup - Winners: Bahrain; Runners up: Dubai Exiles

West Asia Trophy - Winners: Dubai Hurricanes; Runners up: DSC Eagles

Final West Asia Premiership standings - 1. Jebel Ali Dragons; 2. Abu Dhabi Harlequins; 3. Bahrain; 4. Dubai Exiles; 5. Dubai Hurricanes; 6. DSC Eagles; 7. Abu Dhabi Saracens

Fixture (UAE Premiership final) - Friday, April 13, Al Ain – Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins

THE SPECS

      

 

Engine: 1.5-litre

 

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

 

Power: 110 horsepower 

 

Torque: 147Nm 

 

Price: From Dh59,700 

 

On sale: now  

 
Match info:

Leicester City 1
Ghezzal (63')

Liverpool 2
Mane (10'), Firmino (45')

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

GOODBYE%20JULIA
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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPECS
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Credit Score explained

What is a credit score?

In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.

Why is it important?

Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.

How is it calculated?

The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.

How can I improve my score?

By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.

How do I know if my score is low or high?

By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.

How much does it cost?

A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.

The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio

Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)

Engine 4.7L V8

Transmission Six-speed automatic

Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm

Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km

The%20Specs%20
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Venom

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed

Rating: 1.5/5

Company%20profile
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Updated: March 27, 2024, 1:16 PM