Dubai leads regional, global rankings in IMD Competitiveness Report

(Dubai) – Dubai has ranked first in the Arab world in terms of government budget (as percentage of GDP), while globally the emirate ranked seventh in government efficiency and third in public finance, according to the Competitiveness Report 2018 issued by the International Competitiveness Centre of the International Institute for Management Development, IMD, based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Commenting on the achievement, Sami Al Qamzi, Director-General of the Department of Economic Development, DED, said the emirate had adopted a transparent and streamlined approach to government work, supplemented by policies and plans that support business competitiveness. As a result, Dubai has created a friendly and supportive environment for businesses. The emirate is now a role model for economies in the region and worldwide, and competes with the most advanced cities in the world.

“Dubai has set a high benchmark for both government and business efficiency,” said Al Qamzi. “This achievement has been possible because of the team spirit that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has instilled in us. The emirate features among the strongest and most dynamic economies on the global competitiveness map. The initiatives of the Government of Dubai have boosted the emirate’s position in infrastructure efficiency, making it the world’s fourth best in basic infrastructure, ahead of developed economies such as Hong Kong, France, Japan, Switzerland and Denmark.”

In turn, Hani Al Hamli, Secretary-General of the Dubai Competitiveness Office in DED, said that that the Dubai Competitiveness Report 2018, the first of its kind in the region, compares Dubai with 63 economies across the world on 346 indicators.