Regional prevalence and trends of mental health symptoms among university students in Gulf Cooperation Countries from 2010 to 2025 with forecasts to 2030: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background University students in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries face unique academic and societal pressures, yet a comprehensive synthesis of their mental health burden is lacking. This study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence and trends of depression, anxiety, and stress among university students in GCC countries from 2010 to 2025 and forecast trends to 2030. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. We searched PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies published between January 2010 and March 2025. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to calculate pooled prevalence estimates for depression, anxiety, and stress, with heterogeneity assessed using the I 2 statistic. Subgroup analyses were performed by country, sex, age group, field of study, COVID-19 period, and measurement tool. Trends and forecasts to 2030 were generated using random-effects meta-regression on the logit scale. Results Forty-six studies with a total sample of 24,601 students were included. The pooled prevalence was 48.1% (95% CI: 43.0–53.8) for depression (based on 40 studies), 53.3% (95% CI: 48.0–59.0) for anxiety (34 studies), and 53.4% (95% CI: 46.0–61.2) for stress (32 studies). Subgroup analysis revealed significant variations: prevalence was higher in females (e.g. anxiety: 54.4% vs. 46.7% in males), medical students (stress: 60.2% vs. 49.9%), and during the COVID-19 pandemic (depression: 57.8% vs. 45.2% pre-COVID). Oman and Qatar reported the highest anxiety and stress rates. Forecasts indicate a concerning upward trajectory, with prevalence rates projected to continue rising through 2030 if current trends persist. Conclusion This meta-analysis reveals an alarmingly high and increasing burden of mental health symptoms among university students in the GCC region. The findings highlight urgent needs for targeted interventions, particularly for high-risk subgroups such as female, early-year, and medical students. The projected rise to 2030 underscores a critical public health imperative for universities and policymakers to prioritize and invest in robust mental health support systems. Clinical trial number Not applicable.