The 7.5/10 happiness target reflects the UAE’s distinctive approach to governance, where subjective wellbeing is treated as a measurable policy outcome rather than an abstract aspiration. The UAE was the first country to appoint a Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing in 2016, and We the UAE 2031 formalises this commitment with a quantified target benchmarked against the UN World Happiness Report methodology.
Target vs. Actual Performance
| Year | Target | Actual Score | World Happiness Rank | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — (Baseline) | 6.98 | 24 | Baseline |
| 2023 | 7.10 | 7.07 | 22 | Marginal |
| 2024 | 7.20 | 7.18 | 21 | Marginal |
| 2025 | 7.30 | 7.24 (est.) | 20 (proj.) | At Risk |
| 2026 | 7.40 | — | — | Pending |
| 2031 | 7.50 | — | — | Target |
Component Score Analysis (2024)
| Component | Score (0-10) | Change from 2022 | Benchmark (Top 5 Avg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita | 8.4 | +0.2 | 8.6 |
| Social support | 7.8 | +0.3 | 8.2 |
| Healthy life expectancy | 7.2 | +0.2 | 8.1 |
| Freedom to make life choices | 7.6 | +0.4 | 8.4 |
| Generosity | 5.8 | +0.1 | 5.2 |
| Perception of corruption | 6.4 | +0.3 | 7.8 |
Progress Rate Analysis
The UAE’s happiness score has increased by approximately 0.2 points over two years, a steady improvement that places it on a trajectory to reach approximately 7.3-7.4 by 2031 — close to but potentially short of the 7.5 target. The country has risen from 24th to an estimated 20th in world rankings, narrowing the gap with top-ranked nations (Finland, Denmark, Iceland typically score 7.6-7.8).
The strongest component gains have been in freedom to make life choices and social support, reflecting the impact of visa reforms (golden visas, green visas, freelance permits) and community development programmes. The generosity score exceeds the global top-5 average, reflecting the UAE’s cultural emphasis on charitable giving and community solidarity.
The binding constraint is the perception of corruption component, where the UAE scores well but trails Nordic countries that dominate the top rankings. This metric reflects institutional trust and transparency perceptions that improve gradually through sustained governance reforms.
National Wellbeing Survey Results (2024)
| Dimension | Satisfaction (%) | Change from 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Safety and security | 96.2% | +0.8 |
| Quality of public services | 89.4% | +2.1 |
| Employment satisfaction | 74.8% | +3.2 |
| Work-life balance | 68.5% | +2.8 |
| Community belonging | 72.1% | +4.5 |
| Environmental quality | 71.6% | +1.9 |
Risk Factors
| Risk | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living pressures | Medium | Erodes economic wellbeing perception |
| Social isolation in expatriate communities | Medium | Depresses social support scores |
| Work-life balance culture | Medium | Lagging improvement area |
| Survey methodology sensitivity | Low-Medium | Small changes in wording affect scores |
| Regional instability impact on security perception | Low | UAE domestic security strong |
Outlook
The 7.5/10 target represents a stretch goal that would place the UAE among the world’s top 15 happiest nations. Current trajectory suggests a score in the 7.3-7.4 range by 2031, which would still represent a meaningful achievement and a ranking near 15th-18th globally. The areas with greatest improvement potential — work-life balance, community belonging, and institutional trust — are policy-responsive but culturally embedded, requiring sustained rather than rapid change. The UAE’s unique advantage is its high safety and security scores and the tangible quality of public services, which provide a stable foundation for incremental happiness gains.
Current Assessment: Marginal — steady improvement but 7.5 target requires acceleration.