The United Arab Emirates has recorded significant progress across multiple global competitiveness and development indices in 2025, reinforcing its position as one of the world’s most influential and future-ready economies.
These achievements reflect sustained institutional reform, economic diversification, and long-term investment in people, technology, and innovation.
In the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2025, the UAE ranked among the global top five, scoring 96.09 out of 100 points. This marked a two-place improvement compared to the previous year and extended the country’s position as the highest-ranked nation in the region for the ninth consecutive year. The UAE also placed ninth in the IMD World Talent Rankings, climbing eight positions due to strong performance in workforce readiness and international appeal.
Brand strength and global influence continued to grow, with the UAE ranking 10th worldwide in the Global Soft Power Index 2025. Its Nation Brand value increased significantly, rising from USD 1 trillion to USD 1.223 trillion. Human development indicators also showed strong momentum, as the UAE climbed 11 places to rank 15th globally in the UNDP Human Development Index, remaining the only Arab country in the top 20.
Healthcare and wellbeing emerged as key strengths. According to the Health Inclusivity Index, the UAE ranked first globally in health outreach, community participation, and wellbeing promotion, while also placing among the top countries for person-centred and inclusive healthcare systems.
The country’s leadership in digital transformation was highlighted through top global rankings in telecommunications infrastructure, digital government frameworks, and digital content. The UAE also led the Government AI Readiness Index and achieved strong results in global GovTech and e-government rankings.
Safety and entrepreneurship further reinforced the UAE’s competitiveness. It was named the world’s safest country in mid-2025 and ranked first globally for entrepreneurship and SMEs for the fourth consecutive year. Additionally, the UAE placed 10th worldwide for foreign direct investment inflows, attracting AED 167.6 billion in 2024, underscoring sustained investor confidence.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
