In 2025, the United Arab Emirates reinforced its position on the global stage by leading international safety rankings and registering noteworthy improvements in competitiveness, digital governance and human development measures.
According to the mid‑2025 Numbeo Safety Index, the UAE achieved the top spot globally with a score of 85.2, bolstering its image as a secure and high‑quality place to live. This recognition went hand‑in‑hand with the country’s wider progress in economic performance and institutional strength.
In the 2025 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, the UAE entered the global top five with a score of 96.09 out of 100, climbing two spots compared with the previous year and continuing its streak as the region’s best‑placed nation for the ninth year running. This achievement highlights robust infrastructure, efficient governance and a favourable business climate.
For the fourth consecutive year, the UAE topped the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report 2024/2025, being recognised as the world’s most favourable environment for entrepreneurship and small‑to‑medium‑sized enterprises out of 56 economies evaluated.
Global accolades went beyond safety and competitiveness to include national branding and human development. In the 2025 Global Soft Power Index from London, the UAE ranked 10th globally, and its nation brand was valued at $1.223 trillion. On the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Index, the country jumped 11 spots to 15th worldwide, the sole Arab nation in the top 20.
Digital innovation also stood out as a core strength. The UAE led the world in telecommunications infrastructure, digital governance systems and digital content per the State of Digital Transformation Report, and topped the Government AI Readiness Index. It ranked fourth in the World Bank’s GovTech Maturity Index and 11th in both the IMD Digital Competitiveness and UN E‑Government Development indices.
The UAE’s competitive edge was further solidified by strong healthcare performance. The Health Inclusivity Index, created by Haleon in partnership with Economist Impact, saw the UAE rank first worldwide for health outreach initiatives, community engagement in health policy and wellbeing promotion, and achieve top rankings for person‑centred care.
