The 2026 Report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) shows that press freedom is deteriorating at an alarming rate worldwide. Qatar and Mauritania topped the list in Arab countries. According to figures released by the Qatar Press Center, Qatar rose to 75th place globally and maintained its top position in the Gulf region. Qatar gained due to legal reforms implemented in preparation for the 2022 World Cup.

Meanwhile, while Syria made a huge leap in its ranking following the change of regime, Israel’s position dropped significantly due to violence against journalists in Gaza. The United States has also fallen back in the list. The report points to the anti-media policies and budget cuts of the Donald Trump administration as the reason for this. Iran and Eritrea are at the bottom of the list.