The UAE has strengthened its standing in the Legatum Prosperity Index 2026, ranking 9th globally for economic freedom (1st in the Arab world), 11th for living standards, 13th for overall development, 14th for education (with a 41-place jump over the past decade), and 21st for health. The index — covering 161 countries and over 615,000 data points — credits the UAE's progress to a combined focus on economic openness, infrastructure, human capital investment, and improved essential services.