Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
The UAE has entered the world’s top 25 most innovative economies for the first time, climbing five places to rank 25th in the Global Innovation Index 2026, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The country recorded the strongest position among Gulf economies, ahead of Saudi Arabia at 42nd, Qatar at 47th, Kuwait at 62nd, Bahrain at 64th and Oman at 69th.
WIPO said Gulf economies continued to climb in 2026 as investment in innovation capacity, digital infrastructure, finance and talent increasingly translated into stronger rankings.
The UAE was the most advanced among Gulf economies in converting these foundations into broader innovation activity, according to the report.
The UAE ranked 12th globally for innovation inputs and 42nd for innovation outputs, reflecting strong institutional, infrastructure and investment foundations.
Among its individual strengths, the UAE ranked first globally in greenfield research and development and high-tech foreign direct investment, 20th in FDI inflows, 41st in patent families and 48th in high-tech manufacturing.
WIPO said the progress of Gulf economies was supported by strong enabling conditions including digital government, ICT adoption, infrastructure, higher education, talent attraction and startup finance.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar also moved higher in this year’s index, while Kuwait advanced 11 places to 62nd, marking one of the largest gains in the region.
The 2026 Global Innovation Index assesses 139 economies worldwide, with Switzerland, Sweden and the United States retaining the top three positions.
