UAE jumps six places to reach top 10 in IMD Government Support Index, hitting its 2026 target

Dubai: The United Arab Emirates has achieved a new strategic milestone that embodies the efficiency of its economic approach and consolidates its global competitiveness, by advancing to the 10th place globally in the Government Support Index for 2026, one of the indicators included in the World Competitiveness Yearbook issued by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). This is compared to the 16th place globally in 2025, thus recording a progress of six places and achieving the target set for 2026 to enter the list of the top 10 countries globally. The Government Support Index is measured by the value of government support as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP). The index value for the UAE was 0.43% in 2026, compared to 0.55% in 2025. The decrease in this percentage indicates better performance in the index ranking, and higher efficiency in the optimal use of public spending to achieve the highest degree of economic impact. Sustainable, strategic and competitive vision On this occasion, His Excellency Mohammed bin Hadi Al-Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, affirmed that the UAE’s global competitiveness embodies a wise leadership vision that places overall sustainability and balanced growth at the forefront of national priorities. He explained that rising to 10th place globally in the Government Support Index demonstrates the resilience of the country’s economic and financial system and its ability to achieve a delicate balance between targeted economic stimulus and enhancing the efficiency of investment spending while establishing a business environment based on innovation and fair competition. His Excellency added: “This achievement reflects the depth of the partnership and strategic integration between the Ministry of Finance and the financial departments in local governments, which work as one team within a unified framework for public finance statistics. The next phase will witness the continued development of the national financial system in accordance with the highest international practices, and the improvement of data quality, which will ensure the sustainability of outstanding financial performance and consolidate the UAE’s leading position as a global economic and financial centre.” Continued leadership in public finance indicators This achievement is part of the UAE's advanced performance in the financial competitiveness indicators of the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026. The country maintained its second-place ranking globally in the Public Finance Index, third place globally in the Budget Surplus/Deficit Index, and seventh place globally in the Public Spending Index, in addition to maintaining its fourth-place ranking globally in the Government Efficiency pillar. Furthermore, achieving 10th place globally in the Government Support Index represents the fulfilment of the target set for 2026 to be among the top 10 countries worldwide. This achievement is accompanied by ongoing coordination and integration between the Ministry of Finance and the finance departments of local governments, and efforts to enhance the quality, integration, and consistency of public finance data at the national level, updating and making it available within specified timeframes. It is important to emphasise that the UAE's ranking in the World Competitiveness Yearbook is based on an independent assessment using the methodology of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). Having achieved the 2026 target, efforts will continue in the next phase to sustain this advanced performance and solidify the UAE's position among the top 10 countries globally in the index. Institutional integration and data quality Institutional integration at the federal and local levels contributes to enhancing the integration and consistency of public finance data at the state level, in addition to preparing government support data within a unified framework for public finance statistics, thereby enhancing its accuracy, reliability and comparability. These practices embody the integration of institutional efforts aimed at enhancing the quality and reliability of public finance data at the national level. Ranking in the top 10 Having achieved its 2026 target of ranking 10th globally, the focus in the next phase is on maintaining this achievement and solidifying the country's position among the top ten globally in the index. Efforts continue to develop the national public finance data system by enhancing data quality, completeness, and timeliness, thereby supporting efficient reporting and ensuring the accuracy and up-to-dateness of the data. The UAE’s progress from 16th place globally in 2025 to 10th place in 2026 represents a significant milestone in the country’s journey to enhance its global competitiveness. It complements its advanced global rankings in public finance indicators, budget surplus/deficit, public government spending, and government efficiency, all of whic