Competitiveness Index Overview
Global competitiveness indices synthesise dozens of structural, institutional, and performance indicators into composite rankings. They provide an external, standardised lens on how GCC states compare not only to each other but to the broader global economy.
IMD World Competitiveness Rankings (2024)
| Country | Overall Rank (of 67) | Economic Performance | Government Efficiency | Business Efficiency | Infrastructure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | 7 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 18 |
| Saudi Arabia | 16 | 14 | 12 | 18 | 28 |
| Qatar | 14 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 22 |
| Kuwait | 40 | 34 | 38 | 42 | 44 |
| Bahrain | 28 | 30 | 22 | 26 | 36 |
| Oman | 38 | 36 | 32 | 38 | 40 |
Global Competitiveness Sub-Index Scores (Scale: 0-100)
| Country | Institutions | Infrastructure | ICT Adoption | Macroeconomic Stability | Innovation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | 78 | 82 | 84 | 90 | 52 |
| Saudi Arabia | 68 | 74 | 76 | 82 | 42 |
| Qatar | 72 | 78 | 80 | 88 | 44 |
| Kuwait | 48 | 62 | 68 | 78 | 30 |
| Bahrain | 62 | 64 | 74 | 72 | 36 |
| Oman | 58 | 60 | 66 | 76 | 32 |
Economic Freedom Index (Heritage Foundation, 2024)
| Country | Overall Score | Rank (of 184) | Trade Freedom | Investment Freedom | Financial Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | 76.9 | 11 | 86 | 80 | 60 |
| Saudi Arabia | 66.2 | 38 | 74 | 65 | 50 |
| Qatar | 70.1 | 28 | 82 | 60 | 60 |
| Kuwait | 63.8 | 48 | 76 | 55 | 50 |
| Bahrain | 69.4 | 32 | 80 | 70 | 70 |
| Oman | 62.1 | 54 | 74 | 60 | 50 |
Year-on-Year Ranking Trajectory (IMD Overall)
| Country | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 5-Year Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | 9 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 7 | +2 |
| Saudi Arabia | 24 | 24 | 24 | 17 | 16 | +8 |
| Qatar | 18 | 17 | 11 | 13 | 14 | +4 |
| Kuwait | 42 | 43 | 40 | 40 | 40 | +2 |
| Bahrain | 32 | 34 | 30 | 28 | 28 | +4 |
| Oman | 44 | 42 | 40 | 38 | 38 | +6 |
Relative Positioning Analysis
The UAE consistently ranks as the most competitive economy in the GCC and among the top ten globally. Its strengths are concentrated in government efficiency, ICT adoption, and macroeconomic stability. The weakest relative area is innovation ecosystem depth, where the country trails global leaders despite improvements.
Saudi Arabia has recorded the most significant ranking improvement over the past five years, climbing eight positions in the IMD rankings. This reflects the structural reforms of Vision 2030, particularly in regulatory modernisation and business environment improvements.
Trend Analysis
The convergence trend between the UAE and Saudi Arabia is the most significant shift in GCC competitiveness dynamics. While the UAE maintains a clear lead, the gap has narrowed from 15 positions to 9 over five years. Qatar has been relatively stable, while Kuwait and Oman have shown limited improvement in headline rankings despite some progress in sub-indices.
Strategic Implications
The UAE’s competitiveness strategy should prioritise the innovation sub-index, which represents both its largest gap relative to global leaders and the area most critical for long-term economic complexity. Sustaining government efficiency advantages requires continuous digital transformation and regulatory responsiveness, particularly as Saudi Arabia explicitly targets the same benchmarks.