Zawya · 22 Oct, 13:08 · Finance briefing

UAE breaks into global top 10 in IMD’s 2026 Government Support Index

The United Arab Emirates has entered the global top ten in the IMD’s 2026 Government Support Index, according to recent reporting by Zawya.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

The United Arab Emirates has entered the global top ten in the IMD’s 2026 Government Support Index, according to recent reporting by Zawya. This ranking highlights the nation’s enhanced capacity for effective public administration and regulatory frameworks. For professionals, this signals a maturing market environment where state backing for business operations is increasingly robust. The data suggests improved stability and support mechanisms for enterprises operating within the region, reflecting broader economic diversification efforts and strengthened institutional governance.

Employer demand for Public Administration skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

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This ranking validates the UAE as a stable hub for complex operations. You should prioritise skills in regulatory navigation and public-private collaboration. Professionals in compliance, government relations, and strategic planning will see heightened demand as firms scale within this supported ecosystem. Focus on understanding local governance structures and ethical standards. Upskill in public sector dynamics to bridge the gap between corporate strategy and state objectives. A smart move is to specialise in governance frameworks or policy analysis, positioning yourself as a translator between business goals and regulatory requirements. This niche expertise becomes invaluable as international companies deepen their regional footprint, seeking partners who understand the nuances of state-supported growth.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Public Administration, Compliance And Governance, Business And Management and AI in Government — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

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