The United Arab Emirates has achieved a new global milestone in international competitiveness rankings, cementing its place among the world's elite economies by finishing 10th in the 10th edition of the Best Countries 2026 Index, published by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The UAE is the only Arab country in the top 10.
The UAE also achieved an exceptional distinction by topping the global rankings in the 'Rising Power' sub-index, which measures future economic growth prospects, scoring a perfect 100 points.
The Best Countries Index is one of the world's most prominent tools for measuring a country's image and international reputation. It goes beyond traditional economic indicators to encompass qualitative perceptions that influence decisions on investment, tourism, and trade.
The 2026 edition completes a full decade of the index's development. It measures the standing of 85 countries, representing approximately 93.2% of global GDP and 78.4% of the world's population. The UAE recorded 86.5 points in the overall ranking to place 10th on a list topped by Switzerland, followed by Japan, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Norway — ahead of major economies such as the United States, which ranked 11th.
At the regional level, the UAE stood alone at the top of the Arab and Middle Eastern countries by a clear margin over other nations in the region.
The most notable achievement is the UAE's global first place in the 'Rising Power' sub-index with a perfect score — a dimension that reflects expectations for future economic growth and is linked to global brand valuation models, as well as its statistical correlation with long-term growth forecasts issued by international institutions.
This advance reflects growing global recognition of the UAE as one of the most prominent economies poised for growth in the coming period.