The UAE has risen to 10th place worldwide in the 2026 Government Support Index, part of the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, up from 16th in 2025. The result meets the country’s 2026 target of entering the global top 10.
The index measures the value of government support as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP). The UAE’s figure fell to 0.43 percent in 2026 from 0.55 percent a year earlier. A lower percentage means stronger performance, reflecting more efficient use of public spending.
Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, said the ranking shows the resilience of the UAE’s economic and fiscal system and its ability to balance targeted stimulus with efficient investment spending.
“Our rise to 10th place globally in the Government Support Index demonstrates the resilience of the UAE’s economic and fiscal system,”
he said.
He credited close partnership between the Ministry of Finance and local finance departments, which operate within a unified Government Finance Statistics framework. That framework improves the accuracy, reliability and comparability of public finance data across the country.
The UAE also performed strongly across other fiscal indicators in the 2026 yearbook. It held second place in the Public Finance Index, third in the Budget Surplus/Deficit Indicator and seventh in the General Government Expenditure Index. It also retained fourth place in the Government Efficiency Index.
The ranking is based on an independent assessment using the methodology of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).
Looking ahead, the UAE plans to sustain its top 10 position by improving the quality, completeness and timeliness of public finance data, Al Hussaini said, and by aligning the national fiscal system with leading global practices.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
