UAE Retains Top Global Position for Entrepreneurship for Fifth Consecutive Year
Abu Dhabi — The United Arab Emirates has once again been recognised as the world’s leading environment for entrepreneurship, securing first place globally for the fifth year in a row in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2025/2026 Report. The ranking reinforces the UAE’s status as a preferred destination for entrepreneurs, startups and investors seeking a supportive, innovation-driven business ecosystem.
A Strong Ecosystem for New Business Growth
According to the GEM 2025/2026 findings, the UAE ranked first among high-income economies across eight key indicators. These include physical infrastructure, government policies related to support and relevance, taxation and bureaucracy, government entrepreneurship programmes, research and development transfer, market dynamics, regulatory ease of entry and entrepreneurship education.
This performance reflects the country’s continued investment in creating a business environment where entrepreneurs can launch, grow and scale new ventures with confidence. It also demonstrates the strength of the UAE’s integrated approach, combining infrastructure, policy, education, finance and innovation.
Second Globally for Entrepreneurial Finance
The UAE also ranked second globally in entrepreneurial finance and ease of access to funding, highlighting the strength of its financial ecosystem. This result points to the country’s growing ability to provide entrepreneurs with access to capital, investment opportunities and funding pathways that support business expansion.
The report also noted that the UAE is among only four countries to have achieved or exceeded the “sufficiency” level across all entrepreneurship framework conditions. This further confirms the country’s position as one of the most advanced and supportive entrepreneurial environments in the world.
Leadership Vision Behind the Achievement
Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, said: “We are proud that the UAE has secured first place globally in developing its entrepreneurship ecosystem, reinforcing its position as one of the most supportive economies for entrepreneurship and the leading destination for establishing businesses and commercial activities. This achievement reflects the directives of our wise leadership, which has placed entrepreneurship and support for small and medium enterprises at the forefront of national priorities, recognising them as a key pillar in building a competitive, knowledge-based economy driven by innovation. It also reflects the resilience and adaptability of the UAE economy in responding to regional and global changes.”
He added that the results demonstrate the strength of the UAE’s competitive policies and legislation, which are designed to create a business-friendly environment. These efforts are supported by national initiatives such as “UAE: The Global Capital of Entrepreneurs”, which reflects the country’s ambition to attract global talent, innovators and entrepreneurs.
Supporting the “We the UAE 2031” Vision
Al Marri also said the achievement aligns with the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” vision, which aims to position the country as a global hub for the new economy. The strategy focuses on supporting high-growth sectors including technology, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, space and financial technology.
The GEM report shows that the UAE recorded a score of 7 in the National Entrepreneurship Context Index (NECI) for 2025, reflecting strong confidence among business owners, investors and experts in the country’s entrepreneurial environment.
AI, Sustainability and Global Market Access
The report also highlighted the UAE’s readiness for the digital economy. It noted that the UAE is among only six countries where entrepreneurs recognise the critical importance of artificial intelligence over the next three years.
Alongside Taiwan, Norway and Sweden, the UAE received an “Excellent” rating in sustainability priorities and AI awareness. This demonstrates the country’s focus on balancing innovation, digital transformation and sustainable development.
The UAE also ranked among the top five countries globally in international access, with startups benefiting from strong infrastructure and logistics networks that connect them to global markets.
High Levels of Entrepreneurial Activity
The GEM findings showed that more than one in five adults in the UAE are engaged in starting new businesses, while early-stage entrepreneurial activity reached 19.2%. This reflects the impact of strong support systems, accessible business services and a regulatory environment designed to encourage entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurial activity stood at 19.6% among nationals and 22.4% among residents, highlighting the UAE’s ability to attract international talent while encouraging broad participation in business creation.
The report also pointed to strong support for women entrepreneurs and a growing culture of entrepreneurship influenced by family, education and national ambition. The UAE ranked among the top five globally in entrepreneurship education, with a focus on creativity, problem-solving and opportunity recognition.
Flexible Financing for Scalable Businesses
The UAE’s financing environment was also recognised as a major strength. The report highlighted the role of government initiatives, investment funds and venture capital in helping entrepreneurs transform ideas into scalable businesses.
This flexible funding landscape is an important part of the UAE’s wider strategy to build a competitive, knowledge-based economy driven by innovation, startups and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Global Benchmark for Entrepreneurship
The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor is one of the world’s leading references for measuring entrepreneurial activity. Since its launch, it has been based on more than two million interviews. The 2025/2026 edition covers 53 economies, representing around 43% of the global population and 57% of global GDP, supported by expert input to ensure strong international comparison.
For the UAE, the latest ranking confirms more than a strong business reputation. It reflects a long-term national strategy focused on innovation, talent attraction, digital readiness and global competitiveness.
Online References
- Global Entrepreneurship Monitor — GEM 2025/2026 Global Report
- Emirates News Agency — UAE ranks first globally in GEM report for fifth year
- Gulf News — UAE tops global entrepreneurship rankings for fifth straight year
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