The United Arab Emirates (UAE) welcomes December every year with a series of official celebrations of its National Day, which falls on December 2.
On this day, the UAE revives the slogan “Cooperation is Strength,” in a reminder of the year 1971. This was when the seven emirates merged to form a strong foundation for a great country, united under a wise leadership.
Today, the Emirates seeks to be a leader among nations, recording impressive achievements in almost every field, with a few of them highlighted below:
First in vital sectors
The UAE ranked first in 7 global indicators related to food security. Moreover, it ranked first in 5 indicators related to the education sector. It also secured first place in 4 indicators measuring its health sector, and 4 indicators in the financial sector. That is according to the UAE Numbers 2022 report issued by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center.
The report revealed that the UAE ranked first in two indicators related to the energy sector. It also ranked first in the imports of goods and commercial services index. It took the lead in the Internet access index which measures the number of Internet users in different sectors.
The UAE also ranked first in the educational enabling index and the capacity to attract talented people index. Moreover, it took first place in the flexibility of immigration laws index which includes the travel and tourism sector. It also ranked first in the demographic index. Notably, the UAE ranked first in the women in parliament indicator, reflecting the gender balance in this sector. Moreover, it ranked first in the dependency ratio indicator.
Moreover, the UAE ranked first in the satisfaction with preservation efforts indicator in the environment sector.
11th in the Global knowledge index
The results of the Global Knowledge Index 2021 revealed that the UAE ranked 11th globally and first in the Arab world in global knowledge. The index measures knowledge at the global level as a comprehensive concept. This index is closely linked to sustainable development and various dimensions of contemporary human life.
First in gender equality
The UAE ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa on the Women, Business and the Law Report 2021 by the World Bank. This is a global achievement for the country when it comes to gender equality.
25th place globally and first in the Arab world in global competitiveness
The UAE came in first place in the Arab world and 25th globally in the Global Competitiveness Report 2019 by the World Economic Forum. The report assessed the competitive capabilities of 141 countries. The UAE has advanced two places since the issuance of the previous report. Thus, the report monitors the economies of 141 countries, which are classified according to the performance of 103 indicators listed within 12 basic axes.
The UAE ranked first globally in the Stability of the National Economy index and second in the Adoption of Information and Communications Technology index. Moreover, it ranked fourth globally in the commodity markets index. The country also ranked in the top ten globally in seven sub-indices. Among these indices:
- Fourth place globally in government sector performance
- Sixth globally in terms of local market competition
- Seventh globally in the security index and trade openness index
- Eighth globally in the entrepreneurship culture index and the transportation infrastructure index
- Ninth globally in the future direction of the government index
Moreover, the country came in first place globally in four indicators: the lack of annual change in inflation index, the debt dynamics index, the mobile Internet subscriptions index, and the lack of credit gaps index.
First in the Arab world in international talent
The UAE ranked first in the Arab world in the Global Talent Report 2022. This report is issued by Global Competitiveness Center of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). The country advanced two places from its previous ranking, achieving 21st place globally in the ninth edition of the report.
The UAE secured itself a place within the club of the top ten globally in about 30 percent of the total 31 indicators of the report. Meanwhile, it ranked 15th globally within the group of countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, ahead of countries such as France, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Spain and Japan.
First in sustainable infrastructure and transportation
In 2023, the UAE will occupy a leading position in five out of six basic categories in the Agility Environmental Sustainability Scorecard 2023 Report.
It won second place in green investment, innovation, and technology. It also ranked first in sustainable infrastructure and transportation. Moreover, it ranked second in governance and reporting and first in the environmental systems. Besides, it took fourth place in the circular economy index.
First in the Arab world in human development
The UAE ranked first in the Arab world in the Human Development Report 2022 issued by the United Nations Development Program. It advanced five places in the global ranking compared to the previous report’s ranking. Thus, it ranked 26th globally out of 191 countries included in the report, placing it among the 30 best countries in the world.
First in the world in safety index
The UAE maintained its lead in the MENA region for the third year in a row. The UAE achieved first place globally in the Safety walking alone at night index. While Norway ranked second with a rate of 93 percent, and China third with a rate of 91 percent. That is according to the Gallup Global Law and Order Report 2021.
First in regional leadership in the scientific innovation index
The UAE continues its regional leadership role in the Global Innovation Index. It has maintained its leading position since 2016. In 2022, it advanced two additional places to occupy 31st place globally.
The UAE achieved first place in the Arab world in the cost of termination of employment index, business environment index, and entrepreneurship culture and policies index. It also came first in the Arab world in the higher education index and percentage of those enrolled in higher education abroad index.
First in global government development indicators
The UAE government has achieved advanced positions in global government development indicators. It ranked first in the world in the absence of bureaucracy index. Meanwhile, it ranked second globally in the ability of government policy to adapt index. While it achieved third place globally in the extent of the government’s response to change index. Moreover, it ranked fourth globally in the government’s long-term vision index, within the Global Competitiveness Report by the World Economic Forum.
Read: UAE top lenders witness strong profitability in Q3: Alvarez & Marsal
The UAE presents the first global achievements of its kind
In addition to the above, the UAE has attained global achievements that have made it the first in the Arab countries, including:
The first spacewalk in Arab history
In late April, the UAE conducted the first spacewalk in Arab history. That is after the successful flight of Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi into space.
The first Arab and regional project to explore the moon
The UAE explained that the design and construction of the explorer comes from 100 percent Emirati efforts. Thus, the UAE has become the fourth country in the world to participate in missions to explore the moon for scientific purposes. That is after the United States of America, Russia, and China.
The first locally developed satellite
The UAE launched the KhalifaSat satellite in February 2018. It is the first satellite developed by Emirati engineers and technicians, within the space technology laboratories of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center in Dubai.
The most powerful passport in the world
In December 2022, the Emirati passport returned to the top of the most powerful global passports according to the global ranking “Passport Index”. It rose to first place in December 2018 and allows its holder to enter 180 countries. This includes 121 countries without visas, 59 countries with e-visa or upon arrival at the airport.
The world’s first project to inject and capture carbon dioxide
The Emirati company ADNOC, a low-emission energy provider, announced last January the development of the world’s first carbon capture project. The project involves injecting and collecting carbon dioxide using salt water.
The first nuclear reactor in the Arab world
In August 2020, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation announced the beginning of operation in the Barakah nuclear energy plant. The plant is the first of its kind in the Arab world.
The first Arab astronaut to go into space
Noura Al Matroushi became the first Arab astronaut to go into space. In April 2021, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced Al Matrooshi, along with astronaut Mohammed Al Mulla, to join the second edition of the UAE Astronaut Program.
The first waste-to-energy power plant
The UAE completed the construction of the country’s first waste-to-energy station in April 2022. It constituted a pivotal addition to the country’s clean energy sector. The station is considered one of the first works of the Emirates Waste-to-Energy Company. Besides, this company is a joint venture between BEEAH Energy and the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, Masdar.
The first Minister of Artificial Intelligence
The UAE appointed Omar bin Sultan Al Olama as Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence. At the age of 27, this minister marks an achievement in the Arab world and globally.
Best city to live
Dubai and Abu Dhabi retained the first and second places as the most livable cities in the Middle East and North Africa region. They took this position for the fifth year in a row in 2023, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit.
With all these achievements, the UAE has dominated the region and is highly regarded in the league of nations.
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