Gulf Cooperation Council countries have posted a strong collective performance in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026, securing top global rankings across multiple economic and institutional indicators, according to data released by the GCC Statistical Center.
The UAE led the region's showing, ranking first globally in International Trade and topping the Economic Performance factor overall. The results point to the country's continued success in trade openness and broader economic competitiveness.
Qatar came second worldwide in the Labor Market indicator under the Business Efficiency factor, a reflection of the strength and appeal of its workforce policies. Bahrain secured third place globally in Price Stability, part of the Economic Performance factor, signalling the effectiveness of its efforts to maintain a stable economic environment.
Saudi Arabia ranked third globally in Basic Infrastructure, under the Infrastructure factor, pointing to ongoing investment in infrastructure development and its contribution to economic growth. Kuwait placed third worldwide in Public Finance under the Government Efficiency factor, underscoring its fiscal strength and effective management of public resources.
Oman rounded out the regional achievements, ranking sixth globally in Tax Policy under Government Efficiency, a result attributed to the competitiveness of its tax framework and its appeal to investors.
Taken together, the rankings reflect the region's sustained progress on structural reform and economic diversification. GCC-Stat noted that the results affirm the impact of policies designed to strengthen business environments, support sustainable development and boost global competitiveness across member states.
The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive global benchmarks for assessing how nations manage their economic and human resources to boost long-term prosperity, drawing on both statistical data and executive survey responses from participating economies.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
