The United Arab Emirates has strengthened its global standing in human development, ranking 15th worldwide and 1st in the Arab region in the 2025 Human Development Index (HDI) released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The country jumped 11 positions compared to its 2021–2022 ranking, securing its place among nations with “very high human development.”
Outperforming global powerhouses such as Canada, the United States, Japan, Australia, and South Korea, the UAE remains the only Arab nation in the top 20, a testament to its long-term, people-first development strategy. The country continues to invest heavily in healthcare, education, and quality of life, cementing its reputation as a global leader in human capital development and sustainable growth, reports WAM.
The 2025 Human Development Report, titled “A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI),” assigned the UAE an HDI score of 0.94. The report evaluates countries based on four key indicators:
Life expectancy at birth: 82.9 years, aligned with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)
Expected years of schooling: 15.6
Average years of schooling: 13, supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education)
Gross national income per capita: $71,142, contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
Commenting on the achievement, Abdulrahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, credited the UAE’s healthcare excellence and innovation-driven approach for the nation’s continued progress. Sara bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of Education, emphasized the central role of education in national development, highlighting adaptive policies that prepare future generations for leadership in areas like artificial intelligence.
Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, noted that the UAE’s integrated development model, anchored in healthcare, education, and innovation, has positioned the country for inclusive and resilient growth.
The report also examined the growing influence of AI on development, cautioning that disparities may widen between countries that adopt AI effectively and those that lag behind. It called for people-centric digital policies that ensure technology benefits all.
Notably, the UAE ranked third globally in net migration of AI-skilled professionals in 2023, according to LinkedIn data, underscoring its emergence as a magnet for AI talent and innovation.
The UNDP urged high-income nations to foster a collaborative digital economy, where AI and human potential are developed together to achieve equitable and sustainable progress.
