United Arab Emirates  

The unemployment rate is extremely low at just over 3%, ranking the country ninth, globally. However, physical capital per worker is high, ranking the country in the top third, worldwide, on this variable. Inflation is extremely high at a rate of 14%. The UAE’s high domestic savings rate, equalling 45% of its GDP, places the country seventh, globally, and household expenditure is also moderately strong at 25% of GDP. The banking and credit sector performance is varied, where, despite a high loan default rate of 6%, the banking sector is relatively efficient with an interest margin of less than three percentage points. The UAE has a very high reliance on raw materials, with concentration levels as high as 38%. However, the country’s exports as a capacity to import are very high as well, ranking the country seventh worldwide, and suggesting strong terms of trade.

There are 12 start up procedures required for new businesses in the UAE, ranking the country low on this variable. Internet infrastructure is reasonably well developed in the UAE as the country ranks above the global average with regard to the bandwidth available to internet users. The number of secure internet servers ranks in the top 30 worldwide with nearly 60 servers per one million capita. Despite this internet infrastructure development, there are relatively few personal computers available per capita at 33 units per 100 people. ICT exports rank highly, in the top 35, but high-tech exports only account for 1% of total exports, which is an extremely low proportion. Spending on R&D is rather poor, equivalent to 0.3% of the UAE’s GDP, and value added by the service industry is also low, ranking the country in the bottom 20 on this variable.

The UAE is classified as an autocracy and citizens have very few political rights and civil liberties. There are no constraints on the executive branch of government, meaning that political actors can take whatever policy decisions they like without fear of veto. There is no judicial independence in the UAE. Elections for the executive branch are non-existent, but political processes do tend to be well regulated, as the UAE’s current regime is relatively stable, with the last significant regime change occurring over 30 years ago.

Primary school enrolment rates in the UAE are relatively low, but there is one teacher for every 17 primary school pupils and 101 girls for every 100 boys, suggesting gender equality. Secondary enrolment rates are above the global average, with 90% of students enrolled, but tertiary enrolment is low at only 23%. The workforce has, on average, a high level of secondary education at 5.5 years, ranking the country in the top third, worldwide, on this variable. The average worker in the UAE receives 4.1 years of tertiary education, ranking the country around the global median. Government funding per student is comparatively high, ranking the country in the top 30 worldwide on this variable.

With less than two medical professionals and two hospital beds per 1,000 people, access to healthcare facilities is only moderate by international standards. Nonetheless, health-adjusted life expectancy is above the global average at 64 years. Furthermore, only 3% of the population is undernourished in the UAE, a very low proportion. At 0.8%, infant mortality rates are also low, ranking the country in the top 40 countries on this variable. While 97% of people in the UAE have access to improved sanitation facilities, only four-fifths of are satisfied with their water quality.* An extremely high 93% of citizens are happy with their general health, and only 12% of the population consider themselves to have ongoing health problems; both figures are the second highest, worldwide.* Three-quarters of citizens reported feeling well rested, and less than a quarter reported that they were in pain, ranking the UAE in the top third for both variables.*

The UAE faces some security challenges relating to refugees, groups with a history of discrimination or other grievances, human flight, and government-sponsored violence against its citizens. Domestic crime is not a significant problem as the country has the second lowest homicide rate, worldwide, leading to reports that 95% of the population feel safe walking alone at nights, the highest rate worldwide.* Only 9% report having had property stolen in 2006, and 3% were assaulted in the same timeframe; both figures are among the 20 highest, worldwide.*

The rule of law is highly respected in the UAE, the quality of commercial and economic regulation is high, and the government bureaucracy is efficient, ranking the country in the top 40 on all three of these variables. The right to political self determination through free and fair elections does not exist in the UAE, but 94% approve of the judicial process in the country, the highest proportion worldwide.* Only one-fifth of UAE citizens believe there is corruption within local businesses, ranking the country second in the world on this variable. Data for confidence in the military, perception of government corruption, and confidence in the electoral process were unavailable.

Citizens in the UAE have very low levels of freedom with respect to movement, religion, and speech. However, 90% of the population are satisfied with the personal freedom in their day to day lives, ranking the country in the top 15 on this variable.* The UAE is also a very tolerant nation, as 87% believe their area is a good place for immigrants to live, and 71% believe that ethnic minorities are welcome.

A high 90% of the population feel they can rely on their family and friends in times of need, and over half claim to have helped a stranger in the previous month.* Furthermore 41% of citizens in the UAE donated to charitable organisations in the past month, but only 9% volunteered, ranking the country in the bottom 15 on this latter variable.* The UAE is one of the most religious countries in the world, ranking fifth on this variable, suggesting that citizens have widespread access to a religious support network. As many as 59% of all citizens in the UAE are married, which is a high proportion, internationally, indicating the potential for strong familial support.* Data on social trust, the importance of friends, and group membership were unavailable.

* Data taken from the Gallup World Poll

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