Artificial intelligence-driven insights into Arab media’s sustainable development goals coverage

Data preprocessing and validation

The collected data underwent a series of preprocessing steps to ensure quality and consistency. The validation process involved language verification, relevance checks, and anomaly detection. Several steps were applied to ensure the relevance and quality of articles for inclusion in the final dataset:

• Removal of articles with empty paragraphs

• Removal of special characters: $\backslash \mathrm{n}$ and $\backslash \mathrm{t}$

• Removal of articles written in French (Elkhabar Category “Articles en Français”) (انضم إلى قناتنا على واتساب “nDm ‘iilA qnAtnA ‘Ala wAtsAb’”)

• Removal of webpage errors included in the articles (Youm7 and Sabq)

• Removal of articles with paragraph lengths less than 20 words

• Deletion of irrelevant categories of articles: Videos and images or caricature articles, Advertisement articles, and Horoscope.

Specific regular expression (regex) functions were then developed for each website to extract the article year from the date field. Articles lacking a date field were subsequently deleted.

After a preliminary analysis, two websites required additional attention. The data from Hespress spanned from 2007 to 2024. However, this website only became a news media outlet in 2010 when it began hiring professional journalists; before that, it was a simple blog with articles written by bloggers. Therefore, it was decided to disregard Hespress data prior to 2010. The AMI website was identified as not complying with the study objectives, as it is an official website that publishes the actions of the Mauritanian government. Consequently, it was decided to exclude this website from the study.

After applying these criteria and removing duplicates, the final dataset comprised $1\text{,}274\text{,}266$ articles. This substantial corpus provided a robust foundation for the subsequent phases of model training and analysis, enabling a comprehensive exploration of the presence of SDGs in Arabic news media across different regions and over time. The main statistics about the inference data are presented in Table 2 and Fig. 1.

Prompt design

The primary objective of the prompt construction was to produce synthetic news articles that accurately reflected real-world content in terms of style and length, while clearly distinguishing between material related to the SDGs and that which was not. It was imperative that the texts created were entirely in Arabic, with no English terms, and that they did not directly mention specific SDG names or numbers. This design ensured that the distinction between articles related to the Sustainable Development Goals and those that were not was based on concrete content rather than simple keyword matching.

An iterative process of testing and refinement was implemented to create a prompt that met these criteria. Initial experiments with GPT-3.5 were unsatisfactory, as the generated texts often did not adhere to the required news article style and sometimes contained English words despite clear instructions to the contrary. GPT-4 was then employed, resulting in considerably improved performance.

ChatGPT was assigned the role of expert on SDGs and Arabic news articles, using its experience to distinguish SDG-related content from non-SDG content. It was able to create articles with a better understanding of the differences between the two categories.

The prompt was designed to include two primary commands: one for generating articles related to SDGs and another for non-SDG articles. When generating SDG-related content, the command would specify which SDG to focus on, guiding the generation process accordingly. Conversely, the non-SDG command directed the model to create content unrelated to SDGs, using the same overall prompt framework but with a different focus.

One of the key challenges encountered with GPT-4 was controlling the length of the generated articles to match the scraped articles’ average length. Instead of specifying a word count, which proved challenging to manage, the prompt was adjusted to create articles based on the number of paragraphs. Through testing, it was determined that four paragraphs typically resulted in article lengths comparable to those found in the inference dataset.

A key challenge was to ensure that the prompt clearly distinguished between SDG-related and non-SDG content. To tackle this, the prompt incorporated a distinction based on ChatGPT’s understanding of the difference. This understanding stemmed from a separate prompt where ChatGPT was asked to explain how it differentiates between SDG and non-SDG articles across several dimensions, including theme, content, language, terminology, purpose, and perspective. The insights from this process were then integrated into the final prompt to enhance the model’s ability to generate content aligned with SDG objectives.

The prompt instructed GPT-4 to generate articles following clear guidelines. Regarding SDG-related content, the articles focused on initiatives, progress, challenges, or achievements related to specific SDGs, emphasizing themes such as sustainability, social progress, environmental protection, and economic development. Rather than directly referencing the SDGs, the articles used contextual cues, enabling the model to recognize relevant material without explicit mentions.

In contrast, non-SDG-related articles were designed to cover a broad range of topics-such as politics, entertainment, science, technology, sports, or human interest stories-without directly focusing on sustainable development. These articles aimed to inform, entertain, or engage readers on subjects unrelated to the SDGs without using sustainability-specific terminology.

By incorporating these refined criteria into the prompt, the generated articles closely resembled the content of real news stories. This method enabled the clear distinction between SDG-related material and non-SDG-related material, while preserving the style and length typical of news articles. The complete prompt is available in Appendix A “ChatGPT Prompt”.

While GPT-4 demonstrated strong capabilities in Arabic text generation, it is primarily trained on English and Western-oriented content. This may introduce subtle biases in how SDG themes are framed or contextualized in the generated articles. Although efforts were made to ensure cultural relevance, we acknowledge that the model’s global training data may affect the authenticity of synthetic Arabic texts. This limitation is mitigated by combining synthetic and real-world texts during training; however, it remains important to consider when interpreting the results.

The parameters utilized for the generation process are detailed in Table 3.

Synthetic articles

ChatGPT was used to generate 7,406 synthetic articles, including 3,307 related to the SDGs and 4,099 unrelated. The entire dataset comprises around 22 million tokens. Manual inspection of a sample of the generated articles confirmed that they adhered to expected standards in both style and semantic relevance.

The generation process followed a targeted strategy. For each SDG label in the OSDG dataset, 15% more articles were created, preserving the original label proportions and enabling cost-effective dataset expansion. This resulted in 3,307 additional SDG-related articles with label distributions aligned to those of the original dataset.

Given the natural scarcity of non-SDG-related texts in labeled datasets, 4,099 unrelated articles were also generated. Although limited by cost and making up $14\mathrm{\%}$ of the overall dataset, this imbalance was mitigated during training through undersampling.

The final dataset consisted of 22,030 OSDG articles and 7,406 synthetic ones, totaling 29,436. This corresponds to a 15% augmentation for SDG data and a 34% overall increase when non-SDG-related content is included. The synthetic dataset has been made publicly available to support future research.

Longitudinal coverage analysis

Although the 2030 Agenda was formally adopted in 2015, the analysis began in 2010 to capture early coverage of sustainable development and the transition from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the SDGs. This broader timeframe provides a more comprehensive picture of the evolving media narratives surrounding development themes.

A longitudinal analysis of the SDGs’ coverage in the Arab media between 2010 and 2024, illustrated in Fig. 4, reveals a complex landscape of fluctuating priorities and influences. In the pre-SDG period, from 2010 to 2014, sustainable development topics received particular attention, probably due to the ongoing MDGs (Sachs, 2012). During this period, there was relatively high coverage, peaking in 2013 at over 16%, perhaps reflecting the intensification of discussions on the post-2015 agenda. Throughout 2011 and 2012, coverage of the Sustainable Development Goals increased significantly, possibly due to the Arab Spring (Jha & Kırşanlı, 2024), which sparked discussions on social justice, economic development, and governance.

The transition to the SDG framework in 2014–2015 was accompanied by a temporary drop in coverage, followed by a gradual increase from 2016 to 2018. As countries began implementing the new global goals, media discourse began to include SDG-related topics. Its peak in 2018, at around $13.5\mathrm{\%}$, indicates the Arab media’s strong commitment to the SDGs.

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced a new dynamic in SDG coverage. Although the proportion of articles linked to the SDGs fell slightly between 2020 and 2022, coverage remained relatively high, hovering around $12\mathrm{\%}$. This sustained attention can be attributed to the pandemic’s role in highlighting issues directly related to the SDGs, such as poverty, inequality and access to healthcare. The crisis has highlighted the interdependence of global challenges, potentially reinforcing the importance of the SDG framework in addressing complex systemic issues.

However, from 2022 onwards, a more pronounced downward trend became evident, with coverage falling to around $11\mathrm{\%}$ in 2022 and continuing to decline to around $10\mathrm{\%}$ in 2024. This sharper downward trajectory in the years following the pandemic could indicate a shift in media focus towards economic recovery and other pressing issues as societies emerge from the immediate health crisis. It may also suggest a possible “SDG fatigue” (Sumner, Hoy & Ortiz-Juarez, 2020; Fallah Shayan et al., 2022; Kakupa & Shayo, 2021) or normalization of sustainability discourse, leading to less explicit coverage of SDG-related topics. Additionally, competing priorities on global and regional agendas may divert media attention away from sustainability issues.

This longitudinal analysis demonstrates that SDG coverage in Arab media has responded to global initiatives, regional events, and global crises. The observed trends reflect the complex interplay between international development agendas, regional socio-political dynamics, and global health crises. Future research could delve deeper into the qualitative aspects of this coverage, investigating how specific SDGs are prioritized at different times and contexts, and exploring the factors behind the recent decline in coverage. Such information would be valuable for understanding the evolving role of sustainability discourse in shaping public consciousness and political priorities in the Arab world.

Global trends

The analysis of coverage distribution across specific SDGs reveals significant variations in how different goals are prioritized in Arab media. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the coverage is notably skewed towards certain SDGs, reflecting the socio-political and economic realities of the region.

The most covered SDG is SDG 16: “Peace and Justice Strong Institutions,” with approximately $20\mathrm{\%}$ of the total SDG-related content. This high level of coverage can be attributed to the ongoing challenges relating to governance, political stability, and social justice in the region. Many Arab countries face issues such as corruption, intransparency, human rights concerns, and conflict (Wafa, 2019; Kamel, 2021). Due to these challenges, media attention tends to focus on the importance of peace, justice, and strong institutions in ensuring the region’s long-term stability and development.

SDG 3: “Good Health and Well-being” follows closely behind and accounts for a significant share of coverage, approximately $15\mathrm{\%}$ of the total. This emphasis is understandable given the region’s diverse health challenges (Kronfol, 2012), including the management of communicable and non-communicable diseases, the impact of conflict on health systems, and, more recently, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (Nations, 2020).

SDG 5: “Gender Equality” also receives significant coverage, accounting for approximately $12\mathrm{\%}$ of all SDG-related stories. Media attention to this goal highlights the growing awareness of gender equality, driven by local movements and international pressure.

SDG 4: “Quality Education”, representing approximately $10\mathrm{\%}$ of the coverage, underscores the importance of education in the region’s development discourse. Education is often viewed as a critical enabler of social mobility and economic growth, and media coverage likely reflects the region’s challenges in providing equitable access to quality education. Issues such as high youth unemployment, educational disparities between urban and rural areas, and the need for educational reform are likely contributing to the prominence of this SDG in the media.

In contrast, some SDGs receive relatively minimal attention in the Arab media. For instance, SDG 14: “Life Below Water” and SDG 15: “Life on Land” account for less than $5\mathrm{\%}$ of the total coverage. This limited focus may be indicative of the region’s broader socio-economic priorities. Arab countries, particularly those in the Middle East, often prioritize immediate economic and social concerns over environmental sustainability, which may explain the lower media attention devoted to these goals. However, underrepresenting these SDGs could have long-term implications, as environmental sustainability is increasingly recognized as integral to the overall development agenda.

Similarly, SDG 10: “Reduced Inequalities” and SDG 12: “Responsible Consumption and Production” receive limited coverage. The relatively low focus on inequality could reflect a reluctance to address sensitive issues related to wealth distribution, social stratification, and economic disparities within the media. Meanwhile, the minimal attention to responsible consumption and production may be due to the region’s reliance on traditional economic models that prioritize growth over sustainability, particularly in resource-rich countries.

Country-specific SDG priorities in Arab media

The coverage of SDGs in Arab media reveals interesting patterns and priorities that reflect the unique challenges and focus areas of different countries in the region. While there are similarities with the global trend, several notable differences emerge when analyzing the data from the news websites of ten Arab countries, as shown in Fig. B1 in “SDGS Distribution Per Website”.

Globally, the top three SDGs covered are “Peace and Justice Strong Institutions,” “Good Health and Well-being,” and “Gender Equality.” However, some Arab countries show distinct priorities. For instance, the UAE (Aletihad) places an even stronger emphasis on “Peace and Justice Strong Institutions,” with $40.92\mathrm{\%}$ coverage compared to the global $23.42\mathrm{\%}$. This heightened focus may reflect the country’s efforts to strengthen governance and institutions amidst regional geopolitical challenges. Additionally, this aligns with the findings of the Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI) (Stiftung, 2024), which ranks the UAE first among Gulf countries in governance.

Morocco (Hespress) also shows a high focus on “Peace and Justice Strong Institutions” (38.52%), reflecting ongoing institutional reforms in North Africa since the Arab Spring. Algeria (Elkhabar) stands out with its primary focus on “Good Health and Well-being” ( $28.32\mathrm{\%}$), surpassing the global average of $19.73\mathrm{\%}$. This improvement could be attributed to the country’s ongoing efforts to improve its healthcare system and address public health concerns, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic (Klouche-Djedid et al., 2021).

Saudi Arabia places a higher emphasis on “Quality Education” ( $13.56\mathrm{\%}$ vs. $9.92\mathrm{\%}$ globally), aligning with the kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan, which prioritizes education reform and human capital development (Siambi, 2023; Bataeineh & Aga, 2023). Oman (Shabiba) presents a unique case, with “Decent Work and Economic Growth” ranking second ( $13.01\mathrm{\%}$ vs. $5.33\mathrm{\%}$ globally). This reflects Oman’s focus on economic diversification and job creation for its young population, as evidenced by the newly promulgated Social Protection Law (Royal Decree No. 52/2023) (ILO, 2023), which aims to provide comprehensive coverage for all workers.

The environmental SDGs receive varying levels of attention across the region, with some countries showing significantly greater attention. Kuwait and Qatar significantly emphasize “Climate Action” ( $5.74\mathrm{\%}$ and $5.98\mathrm{\%}$, respectively, compared to $1.75\mathrm{\%}$ globally). This increased coverage may be linked to the efforts of these oil-rich countries to diversify their economies and mitigate their vulnerability to climate impacts. Qatar (Marsalqatar) also emphasizes “Affordable and Clean Energy” (3.63%), reflecting the country’s investments in renewable energy projects as evidenced by the Qatar National Renewable Energy Strategy (QNRES) (Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa), 2024). Oman’s greater emphasis on “Life Below Water” ( $4.62\mathrm{\%}$ compared to $1.34\mathrm{\%}$ globally) may be attributed to its extensive coastline and the importance of marine resources to its economy.

The coverage of “Zero Hunger” and “No Poverty” SDGs varies significantly across the region. It is particularly prominent in Mauritania (Sahara Media), with $9.03\mathrm{\%}$ and $6.46\mathrm{\%}$, respectively, compared to global figures of $4.40\mathrm{\%}$ and $3.83\mathrm{\%}$. This heightened focus reflects Mauritania’s ongoing challenges with food security and poverty reduction, which are critical for the country’s development. The severity of these challenges is underscored by the fact that $58.4\mathrm{\%}$ of the population live in multidimensional poverty (United Nations Development Programme, 2023). Similarly, Egypt’s Youm7 highlights “Zero Hunger” (6.35%) and “No Poverty” (5.04%), aligning with the nation’s ongoing efforts to tackle poverty and enhance food security. These priorities are crucial in Egypt’s development agenda, as the country faces high poverty rates.

Several countries show significant differences in SDG rankings compared to the global trend. The UAE ranks fifth in “No Poverty” (vs. eighth globally), indicating a stronger focus on social welfare and poverty alleviation. Algeria and Saudi Arabia rank fifth in “Sustainable Cities and Communities” (vs. ninth globally), suggesting an increased emphasis on urban development and sustainability in these rapidly growing economies.

Regional differences:

The analysis reveals distinct patterns in SDG coverage between North Africa and the Middle East, reflecting not only divergent development priorities but also the underlying policy frameworks and national strategies of each region.

In North Africa, countries such as Morocco and Tunisia strongly emphasize governance-related SDGs, particularly “Peace and Justice, Strong Institutions.” This emphasis mirrors ongoing institutional reforms and anti-corruption efforts following the Arab Spring. Morocco’s National Strategy for Sustainable Development (SNDD), adopted in 2017, places governance and social equity at its core, aligning with its high media attention to these themes. Tunisia’s continued democratization process has similarly brought institutional resilience and citizen participation into the national discourse, reflected in its media coverage.

North African countries also consistently address education, health, and gender equality. Mauritania is a notable case, with substantial media attention to hunger and poverty. This attention aligns with its high multidimensional poverty rate and the strategic focus of the 2016-2030 Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity (SCAPP), which targets food insecurity and rural development. Egypt, facing high poverty levels and rapid population growth, has launched multiple national programs such as “Decent Life” (Hayah Kareema), which aims to improve living conditions in rural areas-an effort that aligns with its heightened media focus on “Zero Hunger” and “No Poverty.”

In contrast, the Middle Eastern sub-region prioritizes economic diversification and environmental sustainability, especially in the Gulf states. This is reflected in the media’s heightened attention to “Decent Work and Economic Growth,” “Climate Action,” and “Affordable and Clean Energy.” These trends align with strategic documents such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Qatar’s National Vision 2030, which emphasize transitioning from oil dependence to knowledge-based economies, innovation, and environmental stewardship. For example, Qatar’s investment in renewable energy, as outlined in its National Renewable Energy Strategy, is reflected in an increased media focus on clean energy initiatives.

Gulf countries also exhibit substantial differences in their approaches to governance-related SDGs. While the UAE gives exceptional media attention to “Peace and Justice Strong Institutions,” suggesting a strong institutional development agenda recognized in governance indices, Saudi Arabia places less emphasis on this SDG in its media, instead prioritizing education and urban development-domains that are central to its Vision 2030 human capital and smart city initiatives.

Oman and Kuwait provide further contrasts. Oman’s focus on “Life Below Water” aligns with its Blue Economy Strategy, which aims to harness its maritime resources for sustainable development. Kuwait’s higher-than-average attention to “Climate Action” and “Sustainable Cities and Communities” reflects its vulnerability to environmental risks and recent policy actions such as the National Adaptation Plan (NAP 2019-2030).

These patterns highlight the impact of national development strategies, economic structures, and recent policy initiatives on SDG media coverage. North African countries tend to emphasize foundational governance and social challenges, while Middle Eastern states, particularly in the Gulf, prioritize futureoriented objectives such as sustainability, economic modernization, and energy transition.

In conclusion, regional SDG media coverage reflects more than thematic preferences-it embodies country-level agendas and developmental milestones. The differences across Arab countries provide valuable insight into how media discourse is shaped by national efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

Country ranking comparison

The report’s regional focus and country-level scoring make it an invaluable resource for comparing media coverage of sustainable development in Arab countries with official benchmarks.

Comparing media interest in the SDGs in Arab countries with the UN rankings highlights both similarities and differences. Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates rank highly in both areas, suggesting a shared commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. The overlap between media content and government priorities suggests a broader societal agreement, where both the public and authorities view these goals as crucial.

Notable discrepancies emerge when comparing the rankings of Egypt and Mauritania. Egypt ranks relatively high in the Arab SDG Index, reflecting stronger performance across several official indicators. In contrast, Mauritania appears lower in the UN-based ranking but receives greater emphasis in the mediabased analysis. This contrast suggests a divergence between official priorities and the issues highlighted in public discourse. Such misalignments may result from multiple factors, including differences in how national progress is measured vs. how challenges are experienced and discussed by society. The perceived urgency, social visibility, or media framing of particular SDGs may also influence coverage patterns independently of institutional performance.

Mauritania stands out among the cases that illustrate such discrepancies. Despite its lower overall ranking in the Arab SDG Index, the country exhibits substantial media coverage, especially on SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). This divergence is not incidental. It reflects the persistent and complex development challenges that the country faces.

Mauritania has long struggled with entrenched poverty, chronic food insecurity, and rural marginalization—issues that remain central to public awareness and national strategies. The government’s Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity (SCAPP 2019–2030) explicitly identifies these areas as top priorities. However, limited institutional capacity, economic constraints, and implementation difficulties have hindered substantial progress, resulting in low official SDG scores.

In this context, the intensity of media coverage is not necessarily a signal of success but rather a reflection of how pressing and visible these issues are within society. The media’s attention to these goals may serve to spotlight unresolved problems, raise awareness, or express collective concern, especially where institutional mechanisms have struggled to deliver tangible improvements. Thus, the discrepancy between media emphasis and official performance may be interpreted as an indicator of critical unmet needs rather than misalignment per se.

The discrepancy observed in the Mauritania case illustrates a broader phenomenon: media attention and official SDG performance are not always aligned, and their relationship should be interpreted as correlative rather than causative.

A country with a low score on the SDG Index may still receive significant media coverage on development issues precisely because of its inability to address key challenges. The visibility of these challenges in the media often reflects public concern, social tension, or policy gaps, rather than indicating effective action or progress. In such contexts, the media serves as a platform for raising awareness of unresolved or critical problems, thus increasing coverage even as official performance remains low.

Conversely, countries that show alignment between official scores and media attention may do so for different reasons. Media and government priorities may sometimes be synchronized through coherent national strategies, public communication efforts, or shared institutional narratives. Alignment might occur when media environments are tightly controlled, shaping public discourse to reflect official agendas. Although this paper does not assess media freedom or ownership, such structural dimensions may also play a role and warrant further study.

In summary, high media attention should not be interpreted as an indicator of high performance, just as low media coverage does not necessarily imply poor development outcomes. The observed discrepancies underscore the importance of examining local development realities, media dynamics, and institutional capacity when interpreting SDG narratives across the Arab region.

Regional SDG challenges and media coverage

Comparing the official UN regional comparison from the Arab SDG Index report with the study’s regional comparison of SDG coverage in media outlets reveals both alignments and divergences in the portrayal and prioritization of sustainable development challenges across the Arab region.

The UN report and the media study both highlight the significance of SDG 5 (Gender Equality) as a major challenge across the Arab region. The UN report indicates red scores for this goal in both North Africa and GCC countries, mirrored in the media study’s consistently high coverage of gender equality issues across most countries. This alignment suggests a shared recognition of the importance of addressing gender disparities in the region.

Similarly, SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) emerges as a key focus in both assessments. The UN report identifies this as a challenge, particularly for North African countries, which aligns with the media study’s findings of high coverage for this goal, especially in North African outlets such as Hespress (Morocco) and Tunisie Telegraph (Tunisia). This correlation suggests a robust public discourse surrounding governance and institutional reform in these countries.

The UN report for both regions highlights economic challenges, as represented by SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). The media study reflects this concern, albeit with varying degrees of coverage across different countries. This alignment underscores the region-wide focus on economic development and job creation.

The UN report’s identification of major challenges in SDG 13 (Climate Action) for GCC countries partially aligns with the findings of the media study. Higher coverage of climate action in some Gulf state outlets, such as Kuwait News and Marsalqatar, suggests an increasing awareness of environmental issues in these countries, possibly driven by their vulnerability to climate change and efforts to diversify their economies.

However, there are some discrepancies between the official assessment and media coverage. While the UN report shows better results on SDG 1 (No poverty) for some Gulf countries and greater challenges for North African countries, the media study reveals relatively low coverage of poverty issues in most media outlets, regardless of region. There may be a disconnect between official development priorities and media attention to this issue.

Interestingly, the media study reveals strong coverage of SDGs 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and 4 (Quality Education) in both regions. However, they are not considered significant regional challenges in the UN report. This increased media attention may reflect public interest in these fundamental aspects of human development, even if they are not the most critical challenges, according to official assessments.

The UN report notes challenges related to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) in both regions, but this goal receives relatively little coverage in most of the media outlets studied. This divergence may suggest the need for increased public awareness and discourse on innovation and infrastructure development.

The media study provides a nuanced analysis of regional challenges in comparison to the findings of the UN report. African media coverage highlights governance and social concerns, whereas Gulf media concentrates on economic diversification and environmental sustainability. While not clearly defined in the UN report’s regional comparison, these distinctions may reflect the development trajectories and priorities of each subregion.

In summary, the analysis of the UN evaluation and the examination of media reports show similarities and differences in how sustainable development issues in the region are portrayed. The fact that the media extensively covers the challenges mentioned in the UN document indicates a synchronization between agendas and public discussions. Nevertheless, discrepancies between the two highlight instances where public understanding and official evaluations may not align completely, revealing opportunities for improved communication and involvement in specific sustainable development objectives. The examination highlights the interplay between established development goals and media portrayals that influence discussions on sustainable development in the Arab region.

Table 4 shows a comparison between the SDG coverage in the media and official coverage in the UN SDG report. We defined alignment as the overlap between the top five SDGs covered in the media and the top five SDGs with the highest performance or priority based on the UN SDG Index. One can observe that there is a strong alignment in countries such as the UAE, where media emphasis on goals like education (SDG 4), health (SDG 3), and poverty reduction (SDG 1) closely mirrors national SDG performance. In contrast, Egypt and Morocco exhibit misalignment; for instance, while SDG 13 (Climate Action) shows notable progress in both countries according to the SDG Index, it receives minimal media attention, indicating a disconnect between policy achievements and media narratives. Saudi Arabia shows partial alignment, with SDG 3 being prioritized both in media and official reporting.

Several factors can contribute to the observed alignment and divergence between government priorities and media coverage. Geopolitical interests and national policies often drive governments to focus on specific SDGs that align with their broader national agendas. For instance, Gulf countries may prioritize.

SDGs related to economic diversification and climate change, while North African countries may focus more on social issues, such as poverty reduction and gender equality. Crises, such as wars, political instability, or natural disasters, may lead to a temporary shift in focus toward specific SDGs, including health (SDG 3) or economic growth (SDG 8). Similarly, cultural and religious contexts influence how SDGs, such as gender equality or peace and justice, are framed and discussed in the media. Public opinion, shaped by civil society movements and grassroots campaigns, can also significantly influence which SDGs receive media attention. Moreover, the media ownership structure and economic factors influence the topics that media outlets prioritize, often reflecting the interests of owners or advertisers, which may not always align with government priorities. Media freedom and government influence are also factors worth exploring in future studies, as they shape media coverage of certain SDGs through direct or indirect pressures on content.

In conclusion, while a strong correlation exists between government priorities and media coverage of SDGs in the Arab region, this relationship is influenced by various factors, including geopolitical, economic, cultural, and societal dynamics. The observed alignment should not be interpreted as a direct causal effect, but rather as a correlation shaped by complex interactions among governments, media, and public opinion. The discrepancies in some areas underscore the potential for further investigation into how different media outlets and governments prioritize and frame SDG-related issues, as well as how these dynamics may influence public discourse and policy decisions.

To better align media discourse with sustainable development objectives, policymakers should consider partnering with media outlets to promote underrepresented SDGs through targeted awareness campaigns and incentives for balanced reporting. The AI-driven models developed in this study offer scalable tools for governments and NGOs to monitor media trends, detect thematic gaps, and adjust policy communication strategies accordingly. Media organizations, in turn, can utilize these tools to audit their coverage in real-time, identify potential biases, and ensure a more comprehensive representation of the 17 SDGs. Incorporating such AI systems into newsroom workflows can also support editorial planning, training programs, and diversity audits, enhancing the quality and equity of public discourse around sustainability.