The UAE has retained its position as the world's top entrepreneurial destination for the fifth consecutive year, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2025/2026 report — reinforcing its reputation as the most competitive environment globally for starting and growing businesses.
The country ranked first among high-income economies across eight key indicators, including physical infrastructure, government support policies, regulatory ease of entry, research and development transfer, and entrepreneurial education. It also placed second globally in entrepreneurial finance and access to funding, reflecting a financial ecosystem built to support startups at every stage.
The UAE is one of only four countries to have reached or exceeded the "sufficiency" level across all of the GEM's entrepreneurship framework conditions — a benchmark that underscores the depth and maturity of its business environment.
Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri attributed the ranking to the leadership's long-term vision of building a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy with entrepreneurs at its core. He noted that the results validate initiatives like the "UAE: Global Entrepreneurship Capital" campaign, which aims to make the country the leading destination for global talent and business founders.
On the ground, the numbers tell a compelling story. More than one in five adults in the UAE are currently in the process of starting a new business, with a Total Early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) rate of 19.2 percent. Entrepreneurial participation stands at 19.6 percent among citizens and 22.4 percent among residents, highlighting the country's draw for skilled professionals from around the world.
The UAE also ranked among the top five countries globally for entrepreneurship education in schools and for startup access to international markets — both critical pillars for sustaining long-term economic momentum.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
