UAE ranks first globally in entrepreneurship for fifth consecutive year

The United Arab Emirates has ranked first globally in entrepreneurship for the fifth consecutive year, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2025/2026 report.

The GEM report, which covers 53 economies representing roughly 57% of global GDP, said the UAE outperformed many advanced economies as the best environment worldwide for starting and operating businesses.

What does it mean that UAE ranks first in global entrepreneurship?

The UAE topped the GEM National Entrepreneurship Context Index (NECI) for 2025 with a score of 7.0 out of 10, the highest among all assessed economies.

The index measures entrepreneurial conditions through expert assessments across infrastructure, policy, finance and education. The UAE is one of only four countries to meet or exceed the sufficiency level across every framework condition.

Which indicators put UAE ahead of other high-income economies?

Among high-income economies, the UAE ranked first in eight specific indicators. These include physical infrastructure, government support policies, tax and bureaucracy-related policies, entrepreneurship programs, and research and development transfer. The country also led in market entry dynamics, regulatory burdens and entrepreneurial education.

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The UAE ranked second globally in entrepreneurial finance and ease of access to funding. The report attributed this to the strength and flexibility of the UAE financial system. That places the country among a small group of nations excelling across both the policy and financial dimensions of entrepreneurship.

How active are entrepreneurs on the ground in UAE?

More than one in five adults in the UAE, over 20%, were engaged in starting new businesses, according to the report. The Total Early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity rate reached 19.2%. Entrepreneurial activity stood at 19.6% among citizens and 22.4% among residents.

The report also highlighted progress in female entrepreneurship and school-based entrepreneurial education. A broad funding environment, covering government initiatives, investment funds and venture capital, was also cited as a driver.

These figures suggest the entrepreneurship story in the UAE is not limited to policy frameworks but is reflected in on-the-ground business activity.

What role does AI play in UAE's entrepreneurship ranking?

The UAE was among only six countries where entrepreneurs unanimously recognized the importance of artificial intelligence over the next three years. Alongside Taiwan, Norway and Sweden, it received an excellent rating in both sustainability priorities and AI awareness.

The report treated this as a marker of how forward-looking entrepreneurial ecosystems are positioning themselves.

The country also ranked among the top five globally for startups' ability to access external markets. Strong infrastructure and logistics networks were credited as key enablers. This external market reach adds a commercial dimension to what is otherwise a policy and ecosystem story.

What government vision is driving UAE's entrepreneurship performance?

UAE Economy and Tourism Minister Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri said the ranking reflected the country's commitment to strengthening its entrepreneurship ecosystem. He credited leadership policies that place entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises at the center of building a competitive, knowledge-based economy.

The national campaign "UAE: Global Entrepreneurship Capital" was cited as one of several targeted policy instruments.

Al Marri also connected the results to the "We the UAE 2031" vision, which aims to position the country as a global hub for the new economy. Focus sectors under that vision include technology, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, space and financial technology.

The fifth consecutive ranking, in the government's framing, is evidence that those structural reforms are producing measurable results.