UAE digital performance ranks ninth globally in the latest World Digital Competitiveness Report 2025, confirming its position as a leading digital economy and setting new benchmarks for the region.
UAE Digital Performance: Global Recognition
The UAE has climbed to ninth place in the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2025, a significant achievement that highlights its advanced digital infrastructure and innovation-driven policies. The report, issued by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland, evaluates 69 economies on their ability to adopt and leverage digital technologies for transformation in government, business, and society.
Key Achievements and Pillars
The UAE’s digital performance is marked by top rankings in several critical areas. The country leads globally in eight indicators, including internet penetration, broadband expansion, and digital skills. It also ranks among the top five in fifteen indicators and within the top ten in twenty-two indicators, reflecting its comprehensive digital maturity.
In the “future readiness” pillar, the UAE stands fifth worldwide, demonstrating its preparedness to adopt emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain. The “technology” pillar sees the UAE in sixth place, supported by robust digital infrastructure and significant investments. The “knowledge” pillar ranks the UAE twelfth globally, underlining its commitment to education and talent development.
Government and Private Sector Collaboration
Majid Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), emphasized that the UAE’s success is the result of integrated collaboration between government and private sectors. This partnership has driven digital transformation, raised performance standards, and embedded sustainability into the country’s digital evolution.
Regional Leadership and Innovation
The UAE remains the only country in the region among the world’s top ten in digital competitiveness, surpassing several advanced economies. The country’s upward trajectory is evident, having risen from 18th place in 2017 to ninth in 2025. This growth reflects the maturity of its digital environment and the effectiveness of forward-thinking government policies.
Artificial Intelligence and Future Vision
The 2025 report also highlights the UAE’s regional leadership in artificial intelligence, with the country achieving top rankings in AI patents and private investments in AI. These achievements align with the UAE’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and its vision for an advanced knowledge economy.
UAE digital performance continues to set new standards, reinforcing its status as a global model for digital transformation and innovation.
