Chronic kidney disease prevalence in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing global health burden; however, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region faces a disproportionately higher burden due to rapid urbanisation, elevated rates of metabolic syndrome, and a uniquely diverse multinational population. Epidemiological data on CKD prevalence across the GCC remain sparse and inconsistent. This review aims to estimate CKD prevalence across the GCC and identify reported risk factors. A systematic review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines was conducted. PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched for studies published between 1 January 2000 and 1 November 2025. Eligible studies reported CKD epidemiological data from GCC countries. Findings were synthesised narratively. Of 9,183 records identified, six studies met eligibility criteria (1,583,856 participants total). Data were available exclusively from Saudi Arabia (n = 4) and the UAE (n = 2); no eligible data were identified from Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, or Oman. CKD prevalence ranged from 3% to 24%, with direct comparisons limited by methodological heterogeneity. Key risk factors included increasing age, diabetes, hypertension, male sex, and non-GCC nationality. Evidence is limited by heterogeneous CKD definitions, reliance on single creatinine measurements, and geographic restriction to two GCC countries (2 of 6 GCC countries, 33%). Available evidence from Saudi Arabia and the UAE suggests a CKD burden comparable to, and in some studies exceeding, global estimates. However, substantial evidence gaps remain across four GCC countries, underscoring the need for KDIGO-compliant registries, standardised surveillance systems, and targeted screening programmes across the region. This review was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD420261297522).