The United Arab Emirates has retained its position as the world’s top entrepreneurship ecosystem for the fifth consecutive year, according to the latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2025/2026 Report.
The UAE outperformed several advanced economies, reaffirming its standing as the leading environment for launching and operating new businesses.
Among high-income countries, it ranked first across eight key indicators, including infrastructure, government policies, taxation systems, entrepreneurship programs, research and development transfer, market dynamics, regulatory ease, and entrepreneurship education.
The report highlighted the UAE’s well-integrated ecosystem, which supports startups, innovation, and business expansion. It also placed the country second globally in entrepreneurial finance and access to funding, underscoring the strength of its financial systems in enabling startup growth.
Notably, the UAE is one of only four countries to meet or exceed the “sufficiency” level across all framework conditions in the entrepreneurship index, a benchmark reflecting strong infrastructure, progressive policies, and digital readiness.
Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri said the ranking reflects the country’s strategic focus on entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as key drivers of a competitive, innovation-led economy.
“We are proud that the UAE has secured first place globally in developing its entrepreneurship ecosystem,” Al Marri said, adding that the achievement aligns with national initiatives such as the “UAE: The Global Capital of Entrepreneurs” campaign.
The results also support the goals of the We the UAE 2031, which aims to position the country as a global hub for emerging sectors, including artificial intelligence, renewable energy, space, and financial technology.
The UAE scored 7 in the National Entrepreneurship Context Index (NECI) for 2025, reflecting strong confidence among investors and business owners. It is also among a small group of countries where entrepreneurs recognize the growing importance of artificial intelligence in the next three years.
Alongside Taiwan, Norway, and Sweden, the UAE received an “Excellent” rating for sustainability priorities and AI awareness.
The country also ranked among the top five globally in international market access, supported by robust logistics and infrastructure connecting startups to global markets.
Entrepreneurial activity remains strong, with over 20% of adults engaged in starting new businesses. Early-stage entrepreneurial activity reached 19.2%, while participation stood at 19.6% among nationals and 22.4% among residents.
The report further noted increasing support for women entrepreneurs and a growing culture of business innovation influenced by family and community networks.
The UAE also placed among the top five globally in entrepreneurship education, with emphasis on creativity, problem-solving, and opportunity recognition.
The GEM report, a leading global benchmark on entrepreneurship, is based on over two million interviews and covers 53 economies, representing around 43% of the global population and 57% of global GDP.
