The United Arab Emirates continues to shine as one of the leading global destinations for entrepreneurship, having topped the global rankings in the “Global Entrepreneurship Monitor” report for 2025-2026, achieving first place for the fifth consecutive year. The UAE’s position as the world’s number one in the “Global Entrepreneurship Monitor” reflects its status as an advanced center for starting and conducting business, showcasing its competitiveness among developed economies.
Notable Excellence in Entrepreneurship Indicators
The UAE ranked first globally among high-income economies in eight key indicators, highlighting its strength in the business environment. These indicators include physical infrastructure and supportive government programs, as well as ease of market entry, making it an attractive destination for entrepreneurs worldwide.
Funding and Innovation Indicators
Furthermore, the UAE secured the second position globally in the “Entrepreneurial Finance” and “Ease of Access to Entrepreneurial Finance” indicators. These results indicate that the UAE’s leading status in the “Global Entrepreneurship Monitor” is not just a slogan, but a reality manifested through policies that facilitate entrepreneurs’ access to the necessary funding to grow their businesses.
Continuous Government Support for Innovation
Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, expressed pride in the UAE’s achievements, emphasizing that this accomplishment reaffirms “the leadership’s commitment to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises,” which are a fundamental pillar for the growth of the knowledge economy. He also highlighted the importance of the national campaign “UAE: The Capital of Entrepreneurs in the World,” which reflects the country’s dedication to fostering innovation and attracting talent.
Statistics Reflecting Entrepreneurial Strength
The “Global Entrepreneurship Monitor” report reveals that over 20% of adults in the UAE have started new businesses, with a high entrepreneurial activity rate of 19.2%. The figures underscore the attractiveness of the UAE’s environment, where the entrepreneurial activity rate among citizens stands at 19.6%, compared to 22.4% among residents.
The report continues to emphasize the importance of entrepreneurial education, as the UAE has advanced in the general education index for entrepreneurship, achieving distinguished global rankings. This is evidenced by a flexible funding environment that provides opportunities for women and aspiring investors to establish their businesses.
Overall, the “Global Entrepreneurship Monitor” report serves as a vital reference for measuring and analyzing entrepreneurial contributions, encompassing over two million interviews from 53 economies, indicating that the UAE continues to be a global role model.