The UAE has retained its position as the world’s leading country for entrepreneurship, ranking first globally for the fifth consecutive year in the latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report.
The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2025/2026 report shows the UAE outperforming several advanced economies, highlighting its strong business environment and support systems for startups.
Global ranking
The UAE ranked first among high-income countries across eight key indicators. These include physical infrastructure, government policies, taxation, entrepreneurship programmes, research and development transfer, and ease of market entry.
The country also secured second place globally in entrepreneurial finance and access to funding, reflecting a strong financial system that supports business growth.
Strong ecosystem
The report noted that the UAE is one of only four countries worldwide to meet or exceed the required level across all entrepreneurship framework conditions.
It also recorded a score of 7.0 in the National Entrepreneurship Context Index, indicating a high level of confidence among investors and business owners.
Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri said the ranking reflects the country’s long-term focus on entrepreneurship.
He said 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 also highlighted the UAE economy’s high level of resilience and its ability to adapt to regional and global changes.
He added that the results align with national initiatives such as “UAE: Global Entrepreneurship Capital” and the “We the UAE 2031” vision, which aim to position the country as a global hub for innovation and new economy sectors.
Startup activity
Entrepreneurial activity in the UAE remains high, with more than 20 percent of adults involved in starting new businesses. The Total Early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity rate reached 19.2 percent, indicating a steady pipeline of startups.
The report also showed strong participation among both citizens and residents, with activity rates of 19.6 percent and 22.4 percent respectively.
Innovation focus
The UAE ranked among the top countries for international market access, supported by its logistics network and infrastructure.
It also received high ratings for sustainability and artificial intelligence awareness, alongside countries such as Taiwan, Norway and Sweden. Entrepreneurs in the UAE widely recognise the importance of AI in the coming years.
Education support
The report highlighted progress in entrepreneurship education, with the UAE ranking among the top five globally in this area. Schools are focusing on skills such as problem-solving, innovation and opportunity recognition.
Female entrepreneurship was also noted as a growing area, supported by access to funding and resources within the country’s business ecosystem.
The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report covers 53 economies and is based on extensive research and interviews, making it one of the key global benchmarks for measuring entrepreneurship.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
