A senior official from the United Nations has warned that the ongoing war in the Middle East has already inflicted an estimated $186 billion in losses on Arab economies, highlighting the growing global economic fallout and calling for an immediate halt to hostilities.
Speaking from Amman, UN Deputy Secretary-General Abdallah Al Dardari stressed the urgency of ending the conflict, which began following joint military actions by Israel and the United States against Iran and has since spread across the region.
“We hope the fighting stops tomorrow, because every day of delay has negative consequences for the global economy,” Al Dardari said, underscoring the accelerating economic damage.
According to UN estimates, the Arab region’s gross domestic product is expected to contract by approximately 6 percent after just one month of conflict, translating into losses of around $186 billion. Oil-rich Gulf states, many of which have become targets of retaliatory Iranian strikes, are bearing the heaviest burden.
Beyond GDP losses, the humanitarian and labor market impacts are also severe. The UN projects that approximately 3.7 million jobs could be lost as a direct result of the conflict, while an additional 4 million people may fall below the poverty line within a single month.
Al Dardari also highlighted the structural vulnerabilities of Arab economies, particularly their heavy reliance on oil. He warned that disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz—a critical route through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supply passes—pose a serious risk to global energy markets.
“The Arab economy depends largely on a single commodity,” he noted, explaining that even non-oil-producing countries are indirectly dependent on oil revenues through remittances and financial support from exporting nations.
The UN official concluded that recent developments have exposed the fragility and lack of resilience in the region’s economic structure, reinforcing the need for diversification and long-term stability measures.
The warning adds to mounting international pressure for de-escalation, as continued fighting threatens not only regional stability but also broader global economic security.
