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Various indices where UAE came out on top include: quality of government decisions, government’s ability to adapt to changes, effectiveness of government spending, the absence of a tax effect on investment attractiveness, and the education sector. Image Credit: Gulf News

Dubai: The UAE has been rated number one globally in 50 indices covering vital community and service sectors, according to the Global Competitiveness Index 2017-2018.

The UAE led in the region and the world in various indices including the quality of government decisions, the government’s ability to adapt to changes, the effectiveness of government spending, and the absence of a tax effect on investment attractiveness as well as the education sector.

They also included public-private partnerships, development and application of technology, the quality of tourism infrastructure, corporate digitisation, gender equity, tolerance with foreigners and the low level of violent crime as well as the e-hope.

Leading position

The UAE also occupied a leading position among the top 10 countries in the world, accounting for 31 per cent of the global competitiveness indicators in various vital sectors.

“In 2007 and after the launch of the first federal strategy, we initiated the challenge of the “number one” globally to develop the work of our government and reach the first rank internationally.

"Today I have reviewed a report showing that the UAE has ranked first globally in 50 development indexes,” said His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“The UAE is the world’s first nation in tolerance with foreigners according to three international reports, and is also the first in the lack of labour disputes and gender equity. It is also the first in the lack of violent crimes and in the cybersecurity as well as in quality of roads and tourism infrastructure, among others,” Shaikh Mohammad said.

“Our end goal is number one globally in all fields and our development is remarkably progressing every day. The competitiveness will only make us more excellent.

Always open to Arab brethren

“The UAE’s achievement is a success for all Arabs. Our experience is always open to Arab brethren,” he concluded.

According to the (Davos) World Economic Forum’s report, the UAE has topped the Arab world countries in terms of global competitiveness and was ranked among the top 20 most competitive economies in the world for the fifth year in a row.

The UAE has also maintained its reputation as one of the world’s most innovative economies, which reflects a steady improvement in various aspects of the UAE’s dynamic, diverse economy, which is capable of meeting all challenges.

According to the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2017, which is issued by the Global Competitiveness Centre of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland, the UAE has been rated number one regionally and tenth globally among the most competitive countries in the world, outpacing the other Gulf states, the Middle East and North Africa region.

It was also ranked first in the world in 25 sub-indices, reflecting the significant jump in performance achieved by the UAE’s government and business sectors, including the government efficiency index and the public-private partnerships index.

UAE’s march to number one

Ease of Doing Business Report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF): The UAE ranked first in the Arab world for the fifth year in a row in various categories of the report. It also jumped from the 26th position globally last year to the 21st.

Global Innovation Index by INSEAD, France: The UAE has maintained its position as the number one in the Arab world and taken the first place in the world in three indicators.

Human Development Report by the World Economic Forum in Switzerland (2017-2018): The UAE was the first Arab and regional country in the ranking of the Global Human Capital Index at a growth rate of over 65 per cent.

The report pointed to the UAE’s success in mobilising efforts to prepare for the future based on a wide diversity of talent, capabilities and skills while maintaining quality and excellence.

Global indicators

The UAE achieved the first position in a number of global indicators, including the absence of HIV prevalence, the absence of malaria per 100,000 people, the low incidence of tuberculosis per 100,000 people, the absence of health problems and the lack of food shortages.

The UAE also ranked first in the development of economic blocs, ease of employment, the volume of government purchases of advanced technologies, coverage of the mobile network and mobile phone subscriptions, as well as the rate of literacy and the effectiveness of customs authorities.

The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report by the World Economic Forum in Switzerland (2017-2018): The UAE ranked first globally in 12 indicators, including the quality of tourism infrastructure and the effectiveness of marketing to attract tourists.

Legatum Prosperity Index 2017: The UAE also ranked first as the most prosperous country in the Arab world.

IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook: The UAE ranked first in nine sub-indices under Government Efficiency category.

These sub-indices include the flexibility of government policies, the Quality of Government Decisions and the Government Expenditure Effectiveness.

IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook: The UAE has been ranked first in the world under the Economy and Business Sector category in a number of business efficiency indicators including the lack of labour disputes, managers’ credibility, management practices, corporate digitisation, public-private partnerships, inter-firm technological cooperation and technology development and application.