Bin Touq:

• Results reflect the success of the UAE leadership’s forward-looking vision in in developing an advanced and sustainable aviation ecosystem.

The aviation sector continues to support economic growth and enhance the UAE’s global competitiveness.

Hanan Ahli:

• Air transport sector data reflects the efficiency of the UAE ecosystem and its role in enabling the continued growth of this vital sector.

A Success Story Driven by Data and Numbers

Results highlight the UAE’s strong performance across global aviation competitiveness indicators.

• Aviation remains a key driver of economic growth, strengthening the UAE’s position as a global hub for trade, tourism, and logistics.
• Official data and statistics continue to serve as a strategic foundation for policymaking, decision-making, and enhancing national competitiveness.
• Continued investment in airports, airlines, and logistics infrastructure supports the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” vision.

The UAE reinforced its position as one of the world’s leading aviation hubs in 2025, with passenger traffic through the country’s airports reaching a record 156.8 million, marking a 6.1% increase compared to 147.8 million passengers in 2024. Aircraft movements also grew by 6.8%, reaching 855,300 movements.

The figures, released by the FCSC highlight the continued success of the UAE’s long-term strategy to develop a world-class aviation ecosystem through sustained investment in infrastructure, airports, and logistics services. These efforts have strengthened the UAE’s role as a global air transport hub and a strategic gateway connecting East and West, while supporting economic growth and sustainable development.

Abdullah bin Touq: UAE Continues to Strengthen Its Global Aviation Position

H.E Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Board of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), affirmed that the latest results reflect the success of the UAE leadership’s vision in building an advanced and sustainable aviation ecosystem supported by world-class airports, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks aligned with international best practices.

H.E. highlighted that the aviation sector continues to enhance the competitiveness of the national economy and strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading global air transport hub connecting East and West, as well as North and South.

He added that national efforts will continue, in collaboration with local and international partners, to further develop world-class logistics infrastructure, enhance the passenger experience, invest in national talent, and expand international partnerships, in line with the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” vision.

Hanan Ahli: Data as a Driver for Better Decisions and Sustainable Growth

H.E Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the FCSC, stated that air transport data reflects the efficiency of the UAE’s national ecosystem and highlights the sector’s contribution to sustainable economic growth.

H.E. emphasized that official statistics play a key role in supporting policymaking, informed decision-making, and measuring national performance, while strengthening the UAE’s position across global competitiveness indicators.

“The FCSC continues to enhance the national statistical system by providing reliable, high-quality official data aligned with international best practices. This enables effective performance measurement, supports future planning, and provides a comprehensive knowledge base for decision-makers,” H.E. added.

Record Growth in Passenger Traffic Across UAE Airports

According to FCSC data, total passenger traffic through UAE airports, including arrivals, departures, and transit passengers, reached 156.8 million passengers in 2025, compared to 147.8 million in 2024,  an increase of 9 million passengers and growth of 6.1%.

Arrivals increased to 44.2 million passengers, compared to 41.6 million in 2024, while departures reached 43 million passengers, compared to 41.7 million. Transit passenger traffic recorded the strongest growth, rising by 8% to 69.5 million passengers, compared to 64.3 million in 2024.

Passenger traffic by emirate reflected continued growth across the UAE’s airports. Dubai Airports recorded 104.5 million passengers in 2025, compared to 100.9 million in 2024, representing 3.5% growth. Abu Dhabi Airports welcomed 34.2 million passengers, achieving 10.7% growth compared to 2024.

Sharjah International Airport recorded 16.9 million passengers, reflecting 10.7% growth, while Ras Al Khaimah International Airport surpassed one million passengers for the first time, recording an exceptional 56.8% increase compared to 2024. Fujairah International Airport achieved the highest growth rate, with passenger traffic increasing by 170% to reach 164.6 thousand passengers.

Growth in Aircraft Movements Reflects UAE’s Aviation Capacity

The growth of the UAE’s aviation sector extended beyond passenger traffic, with total aircraft movements reaching 855.3 thousand in 2025, compared to 801 thousand in 2024, representing 6.8% growth.

Aircraft arrivals increased by 7.3% to 414.3 thousand movements, while departures also grew by 7.3% to 414.1 thousand movements, reflecting the capacity, efficiency, and global connectivity of the UAE’s airport infrastructure.

Leading Global Performance in Aviation Competitiveness

The UAE continues to achieve strong global rankings across key aviation competitiveness indicators, ranking:

1st globally in the Air Transport Quality indicator in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026.

3rd globally in the Efficiency of Air Transport Services indicator.

3rd globally in Available Airline Seats per Week per Million Population.

8th globally in the Number of Operating Airlines indicator.

10th globally in the Air Services Agreements indicator, according to the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Report 2024.

6th globally in the Air Connectivity indicator in the Future Readiness Economic Index 2023.

These results reaffirm the UAE’s position as one of the world’s leading aviation hubs, supported by an integrated national aviation ecosystem, advanced infrastructure, and the strategic role of official data in measuring performance and strengthening global competitiveness

• UAE delegation participates in the inaugural Global Competitiveness Summit in Zurich.
• Hanan Mansour Ahli: The UAE’s participation reflects its position as a global model for shaping the future and redefining competitiveness pillars.

The UAE delegation participated in the inaugural Global Competitiveness Summit 2026, held in Zurich, Switzerland. The event was organised by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), bringing together senior government officials, leading economists and competitiveness experts, global CEOs, and heads of international organisations. The summit featured the world’s largest high-level dialogue on shaping the future of global competitiveness in an era defined by AI, big data, and accelerating economic, geopolitical, and technological transformation.

Represented by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), the UAE took part as an institutional partner of the summit’s inaugural edition, contributing to discussions on the future of competitiveness and economic policy. The participation builds on the UAE’s ranking among the world’s top five most competitive economies in IMD’s World Competitiveness Yearbook, underscoring its global leadership in government excellence, economic resilience, future readiness, and AI.

The UAE delegation was headed by Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the FCSC, with the participation of Mariam Al Afridi, Executive Director of the Office of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, alongside representatives from First Abu Dhabi Bank Group.

H.E. Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the FCSC and Head of the UAE delegation, stated that, “The UAE’s participation as an institutional partner in the inaugural Global Competitiveness Summit launched by IMD, together with its ranking among the world’s top five economies in the World Competitiveness Yearbook, reflects its position as a global model for shaping the future and redefining competitiveness pillars. The world is moving beyond traditional KPIs towards AI- and data-driven models that will fundamentally transform how competitiveness is assessed, managed, and developed.”

“The summit reflects a fundamental shift in the global understanding of competitiveness; from measuring performance to continuously managing competitiveness in the age of AI. For the UAE, it provides an important platform to showcase its experience in leveraging data and AI to inform decision-making and shape public policy, thus enhancing future readiness, economic resilience, sustainable development and long-term prosperity,” H.E. added.

H.E. Ahli participated in the summit’s plenary session, which brought together representatives from the world’s five highest-ranked economies in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook to exchange best practices and policy approaches that promote competitiveness and future readiness. She further joined a panel discussion titled ” From lean to resilient: How companies can readjust in a volatile world.,” which examined the shift from operational efficiency towards resilient and sustainable organisational models. The discussion highlighted the importance of institutional capacity-building and economic resilience as essential drivers of sustained competitiveness and long-term growth.

Dr. Mariam Al Afridi participated in a session titled “The role of middle powers and the Global South within a realigned global order.” Her remarks explored one of the emerging dimensions of competitiveness: the rise of the experience economy as a new source of competitive advantage. She noted that the future competitiveness of middle powers will increasingly depend not on their size, but rather on their ability to create compelling experiences that attract talent, investment, entrepreneurs, and institutions. In a world where attractiveness is becoming as important as productivity, experience economy has become one of the defining drivers of competitiveness in the decades ahead.

During the summit, the UAE presented a paper titled “Competitiveness in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” examining how rapid advances in AI are reshaping the global economy, redefining competitiveness, and transforming the sources of competitive advantage. The paper highlighted the importance of developing integrated national AI ecosystems as the strategic infrastructure underpinning future competitiveness, encompassing advanced computing capabilities, data, national talent, governance frameworks, and digital infrastructure that enable sustainable growth and long-term prosperity.

The summit announced the results of the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026, ranking the UAE among the world’s top five most competitive economies for the second consecutive year. The UAE outperformed major economies including the United States, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands, while retaining its position as the leading economy in the region for the tenth consecutive year. It ranked first globally in 21 competitiveness indicators, among the top five in 67 indicators, and among the top ten in 118 indicators spanning labour markets, infrastructure, government partnership, innovation, AI, and education.

The UAE’s participation in the Global Competitiveness Summit reflects its long-standing institutional partnership with the IMD World Competitiveness Centre through the FCSC, which leads national efforts related to the World Competitiveness Yearbook and other IMD competitiveness reports. The summit serves as a global platform for dialogue on the future of competitiveness and the economic and technological trends shaping national performance, while the World Competitiveness Yearbook, published annually since 1989, continues to be one of the world’s leading benchmarks for assessing the competitiveness of economies.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, affirmed that the UAE continues, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to advance its development journey and solidify its position as a global model of competitiveness and excellence across all sectors.

His Highness said, “Under the leadership of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the UAE continues to affirm its place among the world’s most competitive nations. The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026 ranks us 5th globally, 1st in Economic Performance, 1st across 21 indicators, including Bureaucracy, Adaptability of Government Policy and in the top 5 globally across 67 indicators.”

His Highness added, “These results are the product of a national vision, capable institutions and teams across every sector who perform and deliver. Competitiveness for us is not a ranking to chase; it is a standard we set for ourselves every day. It is what raises the quality of life for our people, earns the confidence of the world, and confirms that the UAE is moving steadily towards a future of greater prosperity and leadership.”

His Highness affirmed that the UAE will continue to build on its position as a destination of choice for investors, a magnet for global talent and ambition, and a genuine partner for entrepreneurs and innovators, noting that the results are a testament to the strength and adaptability of the UAE’s development model.

The UAE’s performance in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026, published by the World Competitiveness Centre at the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, places the country in the top 10 globally across 118 indicators and within the top 5 globally in 67 key criteria and sub-factors.

The country ranked 1st globally in 21 indicators, most notably Bureaucracy, Adaptability of Government Policy, Employment, International Experience, National Culture, Value System, and Quality of Air Transportation.

The UAE ranked 2nd globally in Citizen Trust in AI, Creation of Firms, Females in Parliament, and Management of Cities. It ranked 3rd globally in Image Abroad or Branding, Society’s Access to AI, Tourism Receipts, Exports of Goods and Energy Infrastructure, and 4th globally in Government Efficiency, Companies Investment in AI, and Legal and Regulatory Framework.

The results reflect the progress the UAE has achieved across labour markets, innovation, digital transformation, infrastructure, education and government policy, reinforcing its competitive standing at both regional and global levels.

The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook is one of the world’s most authoritative references for measuring national competitiveness. The 2026 edition covers 70 economies and draws on statistical data and executive opinion surveys from the global business community to assess how effectively countries manage their resources and deliver sustainable prosperity.

The Yearbook is structured around four main factors: Economic Performance, Government Efficiency, Business Efficiency and Infrastructure, and encompasses 20 sub-factors and 342 competitiveness criteria spanning economic, administrative and social dimensions.

The UAE’s GDP grew by 6.2% in 2025, compared to 2024 according to figures released by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, reaching AED 1.9 trillion, while Non-oil GDP recorded strong growth of 6.8% over the same period, reaching AED 1.5 trillion.

Commenting on the results, H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, said: “The national economy continues to deliver exceptional performance under the leadership and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and with the support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.” He noted that the positive indicators reflect the success of the UAE’s economic model in building one of the world’s most dynamic, competitive, and diversified economies. He added that the sustained expansion of non-oil sectors and the growing contribution of emerging industries reflect steady progress towards the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” vision.

“The UAE’s agile economic policies, guided by our leadership’s future-oriented vision and proactive response to global developments, have accelerated the diversification of the national economy, strengthened its competitiveness and sustainable growth, and supported the transition towards a more diversified economic structure. This further enhances the UAE’s position as a global hub for the new economy, expands its appeal as a destination for investment and business, and promotes its resilience and ability to adapt to international shifts. These achievements have been supported by a flexible business environment, advanced legislation, and a broad network of global economic partnerships,” H.E. added.

For her part, H.E. Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, stated that the strong economic performance recorded in 2025 reflects the success of the UAE’s development and economic policies in promoting economic stability and enhancing the competitiveness of key sectors. She highlighted the UAE’s continued efforts to develop its legislative framework, foster economic diversification, build a flexible and attractive business ecosystem, enhance infrastructure, and invest in key economic sectors.

“The UAE continues to promote its future economic readiness through investment in the digital economy, technology and innovation, while developing an integrated economic ecosystem that supports long-term growth and reinforces the country’s position as a global hub for business and investment,” H.E. added.

Key economic sectors demonstrated strong performance in 2025, with construction leading at 11.1%, followed by financial and insurance (10.4%), real estate (7.9%), and transport and storage (7.8%).

In terms of non-oil GDP contributions, trade accounted for the largest share at 16.9%, followed by financial and insurance activities (13.2%), construction (12.9%), and manufacturing (12.8%), reflecting the diversity of the national economy.

The results reflect the efficiency of the national statistical system in providing accurate and reliable economic data to support policymaking and informed decision-making.

National statistical entities continue to implement an integrated programme to modernise economic statistics, enhance data quality and integration, and align outputs with international standards and best practices. This supports the UAE’s ability to keep pace with economic transformation and strengthen future readiness.

Results reflect the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and the continued guidance and efforts of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in advancing government excellence.

• First globally in government innovation, strategic prioritisation, and adaptability in executing plans and strategies
• Second globally in leadership and foresight
• Second globally in government services satisfaction, employment indicators, and adaptability
• Third globally in long-term vision and institutional coordination

In a renewed affirmation of the success of its development model built on proactiveness, adaptability, and future readiness, the UAE Government has further strengthened its global standing by securing its position among the world’s top 10 in the 2026 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI).

This achievement reflects the vision of the UAE’s leadership in building a future-focused government grounded in innovation, institutional excellence, and adaptability to global transformations. It further reinforces the country’s position as a global model for modern governance.

The UAE’s advanced performance highlights the success of its government approach in transforming national ambitions into tangible global achievements. This is driven by the development of an integrated government ecosystem that combines effective policymaking, economic competitiveness, wellbeing, and investment in people. The approach aligns with the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” vision and strengthens the UAE’s global standing as a trusted partner and a hub for shaping the future.

The UAE’s progress in the Chandler Good Government Index – one of the world’s most comprehensive benchmarks for assessing government effectiveness across 133 countries, underscores the strength of its governance model. This model is built on proactiveness, speed of delivery, government agility, and readiness to navigate global changes, alongside the ability to create opportunities while consistently achieving leading global results.

His Excellency Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, stated:

“Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the UAE has succeeded in redefining the concept of government work globally through a model based on speed of achievement, operational excellence, and continuous readiness and agility in decision-making and development.

“The UAE leadership did not settle for building a traditional government that manages the present, but instead established a government that shapes the future, creates opportunities, anticipates change, and transforms global challenges into new pathways for growth and development. International indicators reflect the position the UAE has attained as one of the world’s most efficient, agile, and effective governments. This achievement embodies a leadership vision that places people at the centre of progress and recognises that shaping the future requires innovative thinking, proactive action, and a culture that knows no limits. What has been achieved is the result of national teams that have made excellence a daily approach and innovation a way of working, positioning the UAE as a global benchmark in building the governments of the future.”

The UAE achieved advanced results, ranking first regionally and across the Arab world in good governance. It also topped several global indicators, ranking first worldwide in government innovation, strategic prioritisation, and adaptability in executing plans and strategies, reflecting the efficiency of its governance model in anticipating the future and translating vision into tangible outcomes.

The UAE also ranked second globally in government services satisfaction, adaptability, and employment indicators, demonstrating the success of its policies in enhancing wellbeing, improving service efficiency, empowering national talent, and attracting global talent. Furthermore, it ranked third globally in long-term vision and institutional coordination indicators, reflecting the strength of its government model based on institutional integration, long-term strategic planning, and the ability to develop flexible policies that keep pace with global changes and accelerate government performance.