UAE tops global entrepreneurship rankings for 5th straight year

The UAE has been ranked first globally for the fifth consecutive year in the latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report.

The UAE ranked first among high-income economies in eight major indicators, including physical infrastructure, government policies, government entrepreneurship programmes, research and development transfer, ease of market entry, and entrepreneurial education.

The country also ranked second globally in both entrepreneurial finance and ease of access to funding, confirming the readiness of the UAE’s economic environment to empower startups and enhance their opportunities for growth and expansion.

It is also among only four countries globally that have achieved or exceeded the “sufficiency” level across all framework conditions of the entrepreneurship index. 

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor is one of the world’s leading references for measuring entrepreneurial activity, based on more than two million interviews since its inception.

The 2025/2026 edition covers 53 economies, representing around 43 percent of the global population and 57 percent of global GDP, supported by extensive expert analysis.

Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, expressed pride in the UAE’s achievement, noting that the rank "reflects the country’s commitment to strengthening its entrepreneurship ecosystem and cementing its position as the most supportive economy for entrepreneurs and the top destination for establishing businesses".

"This achievement is a direct result of the leadership’s vision, which places entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises at the heart of building a competitive, knowledge-based economy driven by innovation," he added. 

The minister also emphasised the country's economic resilience and adaptability in regional and global changes and challenges.