Dubai, UAE — Oct. 2026 — The United Arab Emirates has risen five places to 25th out of 139 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2026, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization, up from 30th in 2025. The result puts the country among the world’s 25 most innovative economies for the first time.
The report placed the UAE first worldwide in four areas that measure innovation strengths: entrepreneurship policies and culture, attracting international students, financing for start-ups and scale-ups, and new investment in research and development and advanced technologies.
This year’s edition focuses on empowering entrepreneurs in advanced science and technology and on turning scientific discoveries into scalable ventures with broad economic impact, particularly in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced materials, semiconductors and clean energy. The report also tracks how innovation ecosystems are developing amid global shifts, uneven growth rates and challenges in venture capital markets.
Minister: Result reflects success of national vision
According to the Emirates News Agency, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, said the UAE, guided by its leadership, has made significant progress in creating an environment that encourages innovation in the economy and business activity, drawing on best practices. He said this has strengthened the national economy’s competitiveness and cemented the country’s position as a destination for creative and innovative people from around the world.
He said the five-place advance reflects the institutional, human and technological strengths that support the country’s ability to keep investing in knowledge and technology. The progress, he added, confirms the success of the UAE’s vision in turning investments and innovation capabilities into tangible economic and knowledge outcomes, and supports national efforts to establish the country as a global hub for the new economy and for knowledge- and innovation-based sectors, in line with the “We the UAE 2031” vision.
Strong results in creative and technology outputs
The UAE achieved high rankings across several indicators linked to creative and technological outputs and knowledge diffusion. It placed sixth globally in the value of brands among the world’s top 5,000, seventh in mobile app creation, ninth in creative goods exports, 13th in high-tech exports, and 19th in intellectual property receipts as a share of total trade.
UAE-based brands in the global top 5,000 had a combined value of about $101.66 billion in 2026, up 15% from 2025. Apps from UAE-based developers and companies recorded around 2.91 billion downloads worldwide in 2025, up 9.81% from 2024. The country’s high-tech exports reached about $68.05 billion in 2024, a 36.35% increase over 2023.
Top eight in six sub-pillars
The UAE ranked among the top eight globally in six sub-pillars: first in tertiary education, second in business environment, fifth in both general infrastructure and knowledge absorption, seventh in information and communication technologies, and eighth in credit.
Gains in both inputs and outputs
The country improved on both innovation inputs and outputs. It moved up to 12th globally in the Innovation Inputs Index, from 14th in 2025, and climbed five places in the Innovation Outputs Index.
Across the index’s seven pillars, the UAE ranked ninth in institutions, 13th in human capital and research, 13th in infrastructure, 14th in market sophistication, and 25th in business sophistication. It placed 47th in knowledge and technology outputs and 36th in creative outputs.
The UAE performed above the average for high-income economies in five pillars: institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication and business sophistication. It also exceeded the regional average in all seven pillars.
