The UAE has achieved a new milestone in its efforts to become one of the leading economies globally. It advanced two places to 5th globally on the recently released 2025 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking. The nation climbed to the top five alongside the world’s leading countries in economic competitiveness, government efficiency, legislative strength and business environment excellence.
“Fourteen years ago, we established a competitiveness center, uniting the efforts of key national entities. These efforts have elevated the UAE’s ranking from 28th globally in 2009 to being among the top five globally in competitiveness,” said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in a Cabinet meeting held at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi.
UAE leads globally in absence of bureaucracy
Sheikh Mohammed explained that in the same report, the UAE ranked 1st globally in the absence of bureaucracy index. It also ranked 2nd globally in government policies adaptability index and 4th globally in government efficiency index.
“This achievement is a testament to years of consistent effort. With the vision of my brother, Mohamed bin Zayed, our future will continue to be even brighter and stronger,” he added.
This year, the UAE is ranked among the top five globally, scoring 96.09 out of 100 points. The country advanced two positions from last year. It surpassed countries such as the United States, Sweden, Germany and Canada, while maintaining its top ranking as the regional leader for the ninth consecutive year.
The report evaluated 69 countries based on four key areas: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure. Its findings cover 341 competitiveness indicators across economic, administrative and social fields. The 2025 edition also introduced five new indicators: food waste, environmental performance, freely elected government, passport mobility and media bias.
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Third globally in business efficiency
This year, the UAE made significant progress in the business efficiency pillar, rising seven spots to rank third globally. It also maintained a strong standing globally in economic performance and government efficiency, ranking second and fourth, respectively.
The UAE’s exceptional performance in key sectors contributed to its leadership in 113 global indicators across the report’s main and sub-pillars. The country ranked first globally in 22 indicators, including employment rate, absence of bureaucracy, availability of global expertise, digital transformation in companies, venture capital, inbound mobility of higher education students, public-private partnerships, energy infrastructure and female parliamentary representation.
The UAE also ranked second globally in social cohesion, flexibility of residency laws and government policy adaptability, while securing third globally in graduates in sciences, leverage of digital tools and technology and healthcare infrastructure.
