UAE Climbs To Top In Regional Human Development, Achieves Global Top 20 Status

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has achieved a significant milestone by securing the first position regionally in the 2023/2024 Human Development Index (HDI) report, as announced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This achievement marks a notable advancement for the UAE, which has climbed nine places in the global ranking since the last report, now standing proudly at 17th out of 193 countries. This places the UAE ahead of notable nations such as Canada, the United States, and Japan, making it the only Arab country to be ranked among the top 20 globally.

Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, attributed this success to the visionary leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Lootah emphasized that the UAE government is dedicated to promoting human happiness, welfare, and sustainable development across all sectors to ensure a prosperous future for coming generations.

Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, highlighted the UAE's ambition to excel in global competitiveness reports. She pointed out that this aspiration is deeply rooted in enhancing human welfare. Ahli credited this achievement to the collective efforts of federal and local entities in health, education, and economic sectors. The UAE's consistent top regional ranking and its significant leap in the global arena underscore its commitment to improving quality of life and living standards.

The 2023/2024 HDI report titled "Reimagining Cooperation in a Polarized World" revealed that the UAE scored 0.937, marking an improvement of 0.026 points from last year. Switzerland topped the global ranking with a score of 0.967. In specific indicators, the UAE showcased impressive figures: life expectancy at birth stood at 79.2 years; Expected Years of Schooling reached 17.2 years; Mean Years of Schooling was recorded at 12.8 years; and the Gross National Income per capita was US$74.104.

The HDI is an annual report by the UNDP since 1990, offering a composite index that measures global well-being through three dimensions: health, knowledge, and living standards. These dimensions are represented through four indicators: life expectancy at birth, expected years of schooling, mean years of schooling, and per capita gross national income. The UAE's remarkable performance in these areas underscores its dedication to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3) and Quality Education (SDG 4), as part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda adopted by United Nations member states.

This accomplishment not only reflects on the UAE's strategic policies aimed at fostering prosperity but also on its effective implementation across various sectors to ensure comprehensive human development. The nation's leadership and its people continue to work hand-in-hand towards maintaining this trajectory of progress and excellence on both regional and global stages.

With inputs from WAM