M. bin Rashid: On a 20-year journey with the motto "We will work for the first place"
Mohammed bin Rashid: A Strategic Vision that Places the UAE Among the Top Five in Global Competitiveness
A remarkable journey of progress began with the appointment of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as Prime Minister of the UAE government in 2006. This journey has positioned the UAE among the top five countries globally in international competitiveness indicators.
This journey, launched under the motto "We Accept Nothing Less Than First Place," has, over two decades, successfully established a powerful soft power for the UAE that has impressed the world and proven that leadership is a distinctly Emirati identity.
The year 2006 marked the launch of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's vision to enhance the UAE's competitiveness by leading positive change, investing in human capital, and laying strong foundations for comprehensive and sustainable development.
Establishment of the UAE Competitiveness Council
In 2009, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum approved the establishment of the UAE Competitiveness Council, chaired by the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, with the Minister of Economy serving as Vice-Chair. The Council also includes representatives from the federal government, local governments, and the private sector. Its purpose is to develop the UAE's competitiveness strategy and achieve the government's vision of positioning the UAE among the world's most competitive nations.
In 2015, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority was established, reporting to the Cabinet and replacing the National Center for Statistics and the UAE Competitiveness Council. In 2020, the Cabinet, chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, approved a decision to change the name of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority to the Federal Center for Competitiveness and Statistics, placing it under the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs.
The UAE in 2025: Leading in Global Competitiveness – A Vision for the Future
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre has continued to play an exceptional role in regulating the statistical and competitiveness sector in the UAE, enhancing the country's standing in global competitiveness reports and indices, and achieving sustainable development. This has been accomplished through building an integrated national statistical system and raising the UAE's competitiveness across various sectors. As a result of these ongoing efforts, competitiveness has become an integral part of the government's work system at the national level.
Continuous Leaps
Since 2006, the UAE has witnessed continuous leaps in the global competitiveness race, ranking among the top countries globally in hundreds of international indicators across various competitiveness reports and development indicators. The UAE ranks first globally in 279 indicators, including government efficiency, absence of bureaucracy, speed and flexibility of legislation, business and investment environment, talent attractiveness, government digital transformation, macroeconomic stability, security, quality of healthcare, satisfaction with road quality, and women's representation in parliament.
In 2011, the UAE jumped from 28th place globally to the top 5 in the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2025, published by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). These results reflect the effectiveness and efficiency of the UAE's comprehensive development strategy, its leadership in government management, the strength and attractiveness of its economy, its security and stability, and the high quality of life it provides for its citizens and residents.
The World Competitiveness Yearbook 2025 report indicated that the UAE scored 96.09 out of 100 points, advancing two places from 2024, and maintaining its regional top ranking for the ninth consecutive year.
Leading Indicators
The UAE also led in several specialized international indicators, ranking first in areas such as artificial intelligence in government services, digital infrastructure readiness, data use in decision-making, and public-private partnerships.
The UAE also ranked second globally in the Social Cohesion Index, the flexibility of residency laws, and the adaptability of government policies. It ranked third globally in the Science Graduates Index, the use of digital tools and technology, and healthcare infrastructure.
The UAE ranked tenth globally in the 2025 Global Soft Power Index, announced last February at the annual Soft Power Conference in London. The value of the UAE's national media identity was also projected to increase from $1 trillion to over $1.223 trillion by 2025.
The UAE ranked first globally in the National Media Identity Performance Index, fourth globally in future growth opportunities and generosity, and sixth globally in the strength of its national media identity.
The country also advanced to seventh place globally in economic strength and stability, eighth globally in the overall International Influence Index, and ninth globally in international relations, influence in diplomatic circles, and technology and innovation. It was also among the top ten globally in investment, space exploration, and global public interest in its affairs.
Significant Achievements
The UAE has achieved significant milestones in gender balance, ranking 13th globally and maintaining its first-place position regionally in the 2025 Gender Equality Index published by the United Nations Development Programme.
Last September, the UAE achieved another milestone by entering the top 10 countries globally in the 2025 Global Talent Report issued by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, reaching ninth place globally, an improvement of eight places compared to its ranking last year.
A Leading Business Environment
The UAE ranked first among high-income countries in 11 out of 13 key indicators, according to the report's expert assessment of institutional frameworks supporting the entrepreneurial environment.
In Kearney's 2025 Foreign Investment Confidence Index, the UAE ranked ninth globally, advancing ten places compared to 2020. This reflects international investors' confidence in the country's safe and stable business environment.
Digital Transformation
The second edition of the UAE Digital Transformation State Report revealed the country's leading position in key government indicators globally. It ranked first globally in the United Nations' Telecommunications Infrastructure Index, the Digital Government Institutional Framework Index, the Digital Content Index, and the Digital Knowledge Index.
The UAE also achieved first place globally in the Oxford Insights Digital Capability Index, third place in the Government Services Delivery Index, and fourth place in the World Bank's Digital Transformation Maturity Index.
Today, the UAE stands on the map of global excellence, not only as a successful country, but as a pioneering model that has proven to the world that political will, when combined with strategic vision, is capable of reshaping history and shaping the features of the future. With this vision, competitiveness in the UAE is no longer a numbers race, but a continuous work methodology for a country that knows where it stands today and where it is headed tomorrow.
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