UAE Tops Global Entrepreneurship Rankings for 5th Year

The United Arab Emirates just proved that building an entrepreneur-friendly nation isn't just possible—it's repeatable.

For the fifth year running, the UAE has topped the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor's global rankings, outperforming every other high-income country in eight critical areas. These include infrastructure, government policies, taxation systems, and entrepreneurship education.

The achievement comes from the latest GEM 2025/2026 Report, which surveyed over two million people across 53 economies representing 43% of the world's population. The UAE didn't just win on a technicality—it excelled across the board.

The country ranked first in infrastructure, market dynamics, regulatory ease, and research and development transfer. It also secured second place globally for entrepreneurial finance and access to funding, showing that startups can both launch and scale in the Emirates.

Only four countries worldwide meet the "sufficiency" level across all entrepreneurship framework conditions. The UAE is one of them, joining an elite group recognized for strong infrastructure, progressive policies, and digital readiness.

Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy, said the ranking reflects the country's strategic focus on small and medium enterprises as engines of innovation. The results support the "UAE: The Global Capital of Entrepreneurs" campaign and align with the We the UAE 2031 vision.

That vision aims to position the country as a global hub for emerging sectors like artificial intelligence, renewable energy, space exploration, and financial technology. The numbers show it's working.

The Ripple Effect

Over 20% of UAE adults are actively starting new businesses right now. Early-stage entrepreneurial activity reached 19.2%, with participation at 19.6% among nationals and 22.4% among residents.

The report noted increasing support for women entrepreneurs and a growing culture of innovation influenced by family and community networks. The UAE also ranked in the top five globally for entrepreneurship education, emphasizing creativity, problem-solving, and opportunity recognition.

The country earned an "Excellent" rating alongside Taiwan, Norway, and Sweden for sustainability priorities and artificial intelligence awareness. Entrepreneurs in the UAE recognize AI's growing importance over the next three years, positioning the country ahead of technological shifts.

The UAE scored 7 out of 10 on the National Entrepreneurship Context Index for 2025, reflecting strong confidence among investors and business owners. Its top-five global ranking for international market access shows that startups can easily connect to customers worldwide thanks to robust logistics and infrastructure.

The ecosystem isn't just attracting entrepreneurs—it's empowering them to think bigger, launch faster, and scale globally from day one.