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    UAE

    Tier 1
    Middle East & Africa · #8 of 117 markets · IEPA 2024 (final) · 2026 current estimate available
    72.2▼ -0.2 YoY
    ●●●0.89IEPA COMPOSITE

    UAE scores 72.2 out of 100 on the IEPA (2024 edition), ranking #8 of 117 economies. That is down 0.2 points on the year before. Its strongest zone is Prosperity Outcomes at 84.8. Its binding constraint, the lowest-scoring of its six zones, is Alignment at 57.5. How the IEPA works →

    SIX FACTORS · CLICK ANY SCORE FOR ITS EVIDENCE
    IEPA TRAJECTORY · 2010–2026
    2010201220142016201820202022202420264856647280
    CAPITAL FLOWS · FDI NET INFLOWS % OF GDP
    20102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222024036912
    IE FDI intelligence · synced weekly
    PRODUCTIVE CAPABILITY
    IE COMPLEXITY LAYER · VINTAGE 2024
    #53of 145 ranked economies▼ 5 places since 2010
    How much productive know-how this market has demonstrated, read from the range and rarity of what it makes competitively.
    20102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202441454954
    CAPABILITY RANK · HIGHER IS BETTER
    0.88% / yr
    Implied growth
    Annual growth the current capability base points to.
    83
    Diversity
    Distinct products made at competitive scale.
    +0.38
    Capability score
    Standardized: 0 is the world average.
    -0.71
    Outlook
    Value of the new products within reach of what it already does.
    READ ALONGSIDE THE INDEX
    This market sits in the top 6% on the IEPA composite but the top 42% on productive capability. The wider system is converting more than the productive base alone would predict, which puts the question on how durable that is. Both figures rank the same 115 markets that carry each measure.
    INDUSTRY STRENGTHS · REVEALED FROM TRADE EVIDENCE
    VINTAGE 2022-2024
    TRADE-HUB PROFILE · RE-EXPORT INTENSITY CAN LIFT GOODS FIGURES; READ ALONGSIDE THE FULL PROFILE
    POSITION IN THE PRODUCT SPACE
    IE COMPLEXITY LAYER · VINTAGE 2024
    Minerals13 of 48 made · 60% of the rest within reach
    Construction, Building, and Home Supplies19 of 104 made · 40% of the rest within reach
    Industrial Chemicals and Metals11 of 157 made · 21% of the rest within reach
    Metalworking and Electrical Machinery and Parts7 of 155 made · 7% of the rest within reach
    Agriculture6 of 200 made · 20% of the rest within reach
    Electronic and Electrical Goods2 of 73 made · 6% of the rest within reach
    Textile and Home Goods2 of 78 made · 13% of the rest within reach
    Textile Apparel and Accessories1 of 50 made · 2% of the rest within reach
    MADE COMPETITIVELYONE STEP AWAY
    Widest opening is Minerals. This market makes 27% of that cluster today, and 60% of what it does not make sits one step from something it already does.
    Textile Apparel and Accessories is the furthest: 2% made, and only 2% of the rest is within one step. A move there means building capability rather than extending it.
    READ ON THE 61 OF 83 COMPETITIVE PRODUCTS THAT CARRY A POSITION IN THE CAPABILITY MAP
    POSITIONED TO BUILD NEXT
    IE COMPLEXITY LAYER · VINTAGE 2024
    Cyclic hydrocarbons$35B world market
    Chemicals & PlasticsOPENS 0.23 · COMPLEXITY +0.57
    Other plates of plastics, noncellular and not reinforcedENERGY TRANSITION$61B world market
    Chemicals & PlasticsOPENS 0.14 · COMPLEXITY -0.09
    Malt extract$24B world market
    Agrifood & FisheriesOPENS 0.07 · COMPLEXITY -0.34
    Slag, ash and residues containing metals$6B world market
    Mining, Metals & MaterialsOPENS 0.06 · COMPLEXITY -0.72
    THE NEAREST OPTIONS AMONG 453 PRODUCTS ASSESSED · RANKED BY HOW MUCH EACH OPENS UP NEXT
    LIVE SIGNALS
    PBI Global Wealth Awards 2026 names winners
    MEED Finance · FDI
    Global growth to slow 0.3 percent to 2.6 percent in 2026 as energy shock lifts Brent above $110: UNCTAD
    Economy Middle East · Oct 9 · FDI
    Endeavor Catalyst raises $320 million to back startups beyond Silicon Valley
    Wamda · Oct 9 · Startup Ecosystem
    A strong business brand helps customers recognise, remember and choose you in a crowded market. Vote for the element you believe m...
    RAKEZ · Oct 9 · FDI
    What funding options could work for your business? Beyond traditional financing, there are other ways to support your next idea or...
    Flat6Labs · Oct 7 · Innovation Hubs
    PEERS · TIER 1
    🇰🇷South Korea69.2→🇲🇾Malaysia65.6→🇸🇦Saudi Arabia59.8→🇻🇳Vietnam58.4→
    ECOSYSTEM DENSITY
    IE Ecosystem Registry · 2026-10-11
    170organizations indexed across 12 types · 146 mapped
    Universities & research bodies
    75
    Health research
    25
    Research organizations
    17
    Government bodies
    12
    Accelerators
    9
    Fab labs & makerspaces
    9
    Innovation hubs
    8
    Corporate R&D
    8
    Incubators
    3
    Science & tech parks
    2
    Venture studios
    1
    company
    1
    Universities, corporate R&D, government bodies, incubators, accelerators, science parks, and special economic zones, indexed today.Explore the directory →
    ORGANIZATIONS
    a sample of 170 indexed
    Dubai Future Accelerators
    Accelerators · Dubai
    Intelak Hub
    Accelerators · Dubai
    Krypto Labs
    Incubators · Abu Dhabi
    in5
    Incubators · Dubai
    GrowValley
    Venture studios · Dubai
    Canadian University of Dubai
    Universities & research bodies · Dubai · 2006
    Emirates College for Advanced Education
    Universities & research bodies · Abu Dhabi · 2007
    Reneco (United Arab Emirates)
    Corporate R&D · Abu Dhabi · 1985
    Holland and Knight (United Arab Emirates)
    Corporate R&D · Abu Dhabi · 1968
    EBTIC
    Research organizations · Abu Dhabi · 2008
    Elasmo Project
    Research organizations · Dubai · 2010
    Members get the full directory, filters, and exports.See all 170 organizations →

    UAE: common questions

    What is UAE's IEPA score?
    UAE scores 72.2 out of 100 on the IEPA, 2024 edition, which ranks it #8 of 117 economies.
    What is UAE's strongest zone?
    Prosperity Outcomes, at 84.8. The six zones are scored separately, so a market's strengths stay visible instead of being averaged away.
    What is holding UAE back?
    Its binding constraint is Alignment, at 57.5, the lowest of its six zones. The IEPA reports every zone separately so the constraint stays visible instead of being averaged into the composite.
    How does UAE compare with its peers?
    The closest scored peers are South Korea (69.2), Malaysia (65.6), Saudi Arabia (59.8), Vietnam (58.4).
    What is the IEPA?
    The Innovation Ecosystem Prosperity Assessment (IEPA) scores economies across six zones: innovation capacity, entrepreneurship capacity, resilience, alignment, the FDI accelerator, and prosperity outcomes. Every score carries a confidence band and traces to the evidence behind it.
    Run the full diagnostic →Talk to IE about UAE →