ISIDORA CIRIC (ABU DHABI)
The UAE has once again solidified its position as a global leader, climbing two spots from last year to rank 17th in the 2024 US News Best Countries list. This achievement makes the UAE the highest-ranked nation in the Gulf and the broader Arab world, continuing its upward trajectory on the international stage.
The UAE’s scores demonstrated steady growth across key performance metrics, including agility, cultural influence, entrepreneurship, and power. The country excelled in areas that highlight its adaptability, progressiveness, and global influence, standing ahead of major economies such as France, Italy, and China.
Economic Power and International Leadership
The UAE ranks first globally in the Movers category, which gauges a country's potential for future growth and its dynamic, forward-looking nature. With top scores for being "distinctive" (100.0), "unique" (92.1), and "dynamic" (76.2), the UAE continues pushing the boundaries for progress in the Gulf and beyond.
In the Power category, which assesses a country’s global influence based on economic strength, political sway, and military capability, the UAE ranks 11th globally, once again ahead of countries such as India, Italy, and Turkey, and just two spots behind Saudi Arabia. However, it surpassed its Gulf neighbour in critical metrics, scoring higher in economic influence (98.0 compared to Saudi Arabia’s 93.5) and international alliances (66.0 compared to Saudi Arabia’s 57.8).
Agility, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation
Ranked 15th globally in the Agility metric, the UAE showcased its forward-thinking and modern outlook, as well as its ability to respond quickly to global changes while fostering a dynamic, progressive environment. The UAE earned a perfect score of 100.0 for being "progressive," and high scores for being "modern" (85.3) and "dynamic" (76.2).
The UAE exhibited strong results in the Entrepreneurship category as well, which evaluates a country’s innovation, infrastructure, and entrepreneurial spirit. Securing 15th in this year’s report, the UAE has moved up two spots from its 2023 position, surpassing nations like Norway, Belgium, and Saudi Arabia. The country earned high marks for being entrepreneurial (90.7), well-connected to the rest of the world (86.9), and having a well-developed digital infrastructure (87.0), making it a prime destination for global talent and business opportunities.
Cultural Influence and Global Prestige
The UAE also stood out as a key player in shaping cultural trends on both a regional and global scale in the 2024 report rendition, snatching the 10th place for being the most culturally influential — ahead of countries like Brazil, Greece, and Qatar. The UAE earned the perfect score for prestige (100.0) and strong scores for trendiness (73.0) and modernity (85.3).