Page 75 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

UAE Ranked First in GCC in Digital Competitiveness Ranking

The UAE is ranked first in the Arab
region and 12th globally among highly
competitive countries in the IMD World
Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2019,
issued by the IMD World Competitiveness
Centre, Lausanne, Switzerland, one of the
highly specialized institutions in this field
worldwide. According to the report, the
UAE has advanced five positions from
the previous year’s ranking, to be ranked
12th globally and first in the Arab Region.
In this year’s report, the UAE has also
progressed to achieve the first rank in the
Arab Region in all three main factors of
the report, namely the “technology” factor,
in which the country achieved the second
rank globally, advancing by five ranks from main sub-factors: “regulatory framework”, teams for competitiveness indicators,
last year, and the 9th globally in “Future “capital” and “technological framework”. which consists of representatives of
Readiness” factor, progressing from the Moreover, the UAE has achieved advanced numerous federal and local government
12th rank last year. The UAE advanced one positions globally in these sub-factors, entities, responsible for enhancing the
rank in the “knowledge” factor to be the ranking first, second and fifth globally. country’s position in economic and social
first in the Arab Region and 35th globally. In terms of indicators: the UAE is ranked indicators in general, and the digital
Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, TRA Director first globally in “immigration laws” competitiveness index in particular, as this
General, praised the UAE performance and “wireless broadband”, ranked 3rd indicator reflects the progress in digital and
in the 2019 report and the achievement globally in “development and application electronic transformations represented
of high ranks in this strategic sector. Al of technology”, “banking and financial in Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects and
Mansoori said: “The UAE progress in the services”, and “venture capital”, and 4th big data to support and develop smart
Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2019 is globally in “funding for technological government services and build smart
a new global testimony added to the UAE solution”. The third and last factor, cities. Al Mansoori concluded by saying:
record of achievements and teamwork. “Future Readiness”, monitors countries’ “Technology today is the cornerstone of
I would like to thank our partners in readiness for change in different sectors, the economic and social development
government and private sectors for their and the role of technology in handling strategies and plans adopted by the world’s
efforts and collaboration to enhance changes, by measuring three sub-factors: advanced economies. Innovation is the
the competitiveness of the country and “adaptive attitudes”, “business agility” key for success and cooperation among
its progress in all global indicators and and “IT integration”. In this factor, the individuals, federal and local government
reports. ”The analysis prepared by the UAE is ranked first globally in four sub- entities in the development of solutions,
Competitiveness Strategy Team at the indicators: “Agility of companies”, “Use and future foresight plays an accelerating
Federal Competitiveness and Statistics of big data and analytics”, “Public-private role of this innovation and thus improve
Authority for the factors and sub- partnership” and “Opportunities and the country and society.” The World Digital
factors of this report showed that the threats”. The UAE is ranked second globally Competitiveness Ranking was added to
UAE achieved outstanding performance in “Cyber security” and third globally the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook
in a large number of factors and sub- in “knowledge transfer” and “Attitudes in 2017. The ranking is based on 50
factors. In the “Knowledge” factor, which toward globalization”. Al Mansoori indicators grouped into nine sub-factors
tracks the performance of the country by highlighted the key role of federal and local that form three main factors: knowledge,
measuring three sub-factors - “Talent”, government entities and the private sector technology and future readiness. The IMD
“training & education” and “scientific in achieving the vision, aspirations and World Competitiveness Yearbook is an
concentration” - the UAE is ranked first goals set by the wise leadership for the important global reference for many other
globally in “international expertise” and continuous development and improvement international institutions that rely on this
second globally in “management of cities”. of technological infrastructure, as well report to conduct their studies and publish
It is ranked third globally in “net flow of as supporting training and development their reports. Additionally, many academic
international students”, fourth globally initiatives for national capacities in the institutions consider it an important
in “employee training” and fifth globally field of information technology, and measure to identify international best
in “foreign highly-skilled personnel”. encouraging research and development practices.
The “Technology” factor monitors in ICT and advanced science. Al Mansoori
technological progress through three also emphasized on the task of executive

75 SEPTEMBER 2019