A remarkable journey of progress began in 2006, when His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, assumed leadership of the UAE government — a journey that would position the country among the world’s top five in global competitiveness rankings. This journey was launched under the guiding motto: “We accept nothing but first place.”
This era has seen the UAE solidify its global standing through soft power, strategic reforms, and long-term investments in human capital, becoming a model of leadership, innovation, and sustainable development.
Building a Foundation for National Competitiveness
The year 2006 marked the launch of Sheikh Mohammed’s vision to enhance the UAE’s global competitiveness through forward-thinking governance, investment in talent, and a robust foundation for sustainable development.
In 2009, His Highness approved the formation of the Emirates Competitiveness Council, chaired by the Minister of Cabinet Affairs and with the Minister of Economy as deputy chair. The council included members from federal and local governments as well as the private sector, and aimed to craft a unified national competitiveness strategy, placing the UAE firmly on the map of the world’s most competitive countries.
Advancing Sustainable Development
In 2015, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority was established under the Cabinet, replacing both the Emirates Competitiveness Council and the National Bureau of Statistics. In 2020, the Cabinet, led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, may God protect him, approved renaming it the Federal Center for Competitiveness and Statistics, affiliating it with the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs.
The center continues to play a central role in organizing the national statistical and competitiveness landscape, enhancing the UAE’s position in global reports and indicators, and supporting sustainable development through an integrated national data system.
Leading Global Competitiveness Rankings
Since 2006, the UAE has made rapid, steady progress in global competitiveness indicators, topping 279 international indicators across a variety of sectors. These include:
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Government efficiency
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Absence of bureaucracy
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Speed and flexibility of legislation
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Business and investment environment
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Attractiveness to global talent
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Digital transformation in government
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Macroeconomic stability
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Public safety and security
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Quality of healthcare
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Road infrastructure satisfaction
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Women’s representation in parliament
In 2011, the UAE ranked 28th globally in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook. By 2025, it had entered the top five globally, scoring 96.09 out of 100, and maintaining its position as #1 regionally for the ninth consecutive year.
Excellence Across Global Indicators
The UAE also ranked first globally in numerous specialized indicators, such as:
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Use of artificial intelligence in government services
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Digital infrastructure readiness
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Data usage in decision-making
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Public-private partnerships
It ranked second globally in social cohesion, flexibility of residency laws, and the adaptability of government policies, while placing third in indicators such as science graduates, digital tool adoption, and healthcare infrastructure.
The UAE also achieved:
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10th globally in the 2025 Global Soft Power Index
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1st globally in national media brand performance
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4th in future growth opportunities and generosity
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6th in media brand strength
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7th in economic strength and stability
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8th in overall global influence
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9th in international relations, diplomatic impact, and innovation
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13th globally in gender equality and 1st in the region
Talent Competitiveness and Human Capital Development
In September 2025, the UAE advanced to 9th globally in the Global Talent Competitiveness Report issued by the IMD, up eight places from the previous year. The country achieved top global rankings in five talent indicators and was among the top ten in 15 others.
Highlights included:
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1st globally and regionally in readiness — reflecting workforce skill availability
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12th globally in attractiveness to global talent
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6-place improvement in investment and development of national talent
The UAE’s appeal is further reinforced by being ranked 1st globally in attracting high-net-worth individuals for the third consecutive year, affirming its status as a global destination for top talent and investment.
The country also maintained its lead among nations with very high human development, ranking 15th globally — the only Arab country in the top 20, according to the UN Human Development Index 2025.
Leadership in Healthcare and Quality of Life
The UAE ranked 1st globally in health awareness programs, community engagement in health policies, and quality of life, according to the Health Inclusivity Index published by Haleon in cooperation with Economist Impact.
The index evaluated 40 countries using 58 sub-indicators related to health culture, awareness, inclusion, and fairness. The UAE also ranked:
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2nd globally in universal health system implementation
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Among the top 5 globally in people-centric healthcare
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10th globally in health literacy and culture
These achievements align with the UAE’s #2 global ranking in social cohesion, reflecting a stable, supportive, and healthy social environment.
Economic Strength and Digital Leadership
The UAE reaffirmed its global economic leadership by ranking:
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1st globally for the fourth year in a row in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report 2024–2025, out of 56 economies
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1st among high-income countries in 11 of 13 entrepreneurship framework indicators
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9th globally in the 2025 Kearney FDI Confidence Index, a leap of 10 places since 2020
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10th globally in FDI inflows in 2024, with AED 167.6 billion ($45.6 billion) in foreign investment
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1st globally in new FDI performance relative to GDP
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2nd globally in attractiveness for incoming investment projects
In digital transformation, the UAE ranked:
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1st globally in telecom infrastructure, digital governance frameworks, digital content, and digital literacy (UN rankings)
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1st in government digital capability (Oxford Insights)
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3rd in digital service delivery
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4th in digital maturity (World Bank)
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9th in digital competitiveness (IMD)
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11th in e-government development (UN)
Safest Country in the World
In mid-2025, the UAE was ranked the safest country globally by Numbeo, with a safety score of 85.2 out of 100, reflecting low crime rates, public safety, security services quality, and overall socio-economic stability.
A Strategic Model of Excellence
These national achievements are the result of the strategic excellence framework laid down by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, may God protect him, since he became Prime Minister in 2006. His vision transformed government from administrative routine into a dynamic platform for national superiority, institutionalizing competitiveness as a national culture.
By prioritizing investment in human capital and comprehensive digital transformation, the UAE has emerged as a globally admired model for how nations can transition from ambition to global leadership — all within a short span of time.
