His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has affirmed that the United Arab Emirates continues, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, its ambitious development journey and is entrenching its position as a global model of competitiveness and leadership across various sectors.
His Highness said: "Under the leadership of my brother Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the UAE continues to consolidate its standing among the world's most competitive nations. According to the latest Global Competitiveness Report 2026, the UAE ranked 5th globally and maintained its regional leadership for the 10th consecutive year. It ranked 1st globally in economic performance, topped 21 competitive indicators — including absence of bureaucracy and the adaptability of government policy — and placed among the top 5 globally in 67 indicators."
He added: "These results are the fruit of a national approach, the efficiency of institutions, and the efforts of work teams across various sectors. Our competitiveness is not a short-term goal but a continuous endeavour that enhances quality of life, reinforces global confidence in our country, and confirms that the UAE is moving steadily towards a more prosperous and pioneering future."
His Highness affirmed that the UAE will continue to cement its position as a destination for investors, an incubator for talent and ambitions, and a partner in success for creators and entrepreneurs, noting that the competitive achievements reflect the strength of the UAE's development model and its capacity to sustain global leadership.
His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, affirmed that the UAE's leading results in the Annual Global Competitiveness Report 2026 embody the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai — directives that have made competitiveness and excellence a work culture and a key driver for developing government performance.
Responding to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's post regarding the competitiveness report, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan wrote on the X platform: "Your Highness, these results embody the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and your directives, which have made competitiveness and excellence a work culture and a key driver for developing government performance. All thanks go to the national work teams who continue to achieve qualitative milestones and entrench the UAE's leadership across various international indicators."
The UAE achieved a distinguished performance in the Annual Global Competitiveness Report 2026, issued by the World Competitiveness Center of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland, ranking 1st globally in the economic performance pillar and 5th globally in overall competitiveness.
The country maintained its 1st regional ranking for the 10th consecutive year, topping the economies of the Arab world, the Middle East and North Africa. It also maintained its 4th global ranking in government efficiency, corporate investment in artificial intelligence, and the legal and regulatory framework.
The strong performance of a range of vital sectors contributed to the UAE placing among the top 10 globally in 118 indicators, and among the top 5 globally in 67 major and sub-indicators.
The country ranked 1st globally in 21 indicators, most notably the absence of bureaucracy, the adaptability of government policies, employment rate, availability of international expertise, national culture, the extent to which societal values support competitiveness, and quality of air transport.
It ranked 2nd globally in indicators covering citizen trust in artificial intelligence, business creation, women's representation in parliament, and city management. It ranked 3rd globally in indicators for the country's international image, society's access to artificial intelligence, tourism revenue as a share of GDP, share of goods exports, energy infrastructure, and others.
These results reflect the progress the UAE has achieved in the areas of the labour market, innovation, digital transformation, infrastructure, education, and the efficiency of government policies, all of which enhance its competitiveness at both regional and global levels.
It is worth noting that the Annual Global Competitiveness Report, published by the World Competitiveness Center of the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, is one of the most prominent international references for measuring national competitiveness. The report covers 70 countries around the world, and its methodology is based on statistical data and surveys encompassing the global business community and private sector leaders, measuring countries' ability to manage their resources efficiently and achieve sustainable prosperity for their peoples.
The report is built on 4 main pillars: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure. It includes 20 sub-pillars and 342 competitive indicators covering various economic, administrative, and social dimensions.