UAE remains most prosperous Arab nation according to new study

The UAE maintained its position as the most prosperous country in the Arab world and its residents have had the greatest improvement in living standards anywhere in the world over the past decade, according to the latest prosperity index by the Legatum Institute.

“The Middle East and North Africa has seen significant growth in the living standards of its citizens,” the report said.

“The United Arab Emirates has seen the greatest increase in standard of living in the world in the last ten years; and there has also been an increase in people’s satisfaction with their standard of living right across into North Africa.”

The UAE came in at number 39 out of 149 countries in an index that measures economic quality, business environment, governance, personal freedom, social capital, safety and security, education, health and natural environment. The second best performer in the measure was Qatar, which came in at number 47 in the rankings, followed by Bahrain at 62 and Oman at 73.

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The UAE had managed to hold its ground in the prosperity index in the wake of the oil crash of 2014 because its economy has been able to diversify away from relying too heavily on oil revenues to fuel GDP growth, according to Legatum.

The country's economic diversification strategy is decades old, with moves into various industries including aviation, financial services, tourism and heavy industry. The UAE government has also reduced subsidies on water, electricity and petrol prices, introduced taxes on cigarettes and fizzy drinks, and is preparing to introduce a 5 per cent value added tax in January.

Kuwait by contrast fell to number 80 on the prosperity index ranking from 71 last year, due to the centrality of hydrocarbon revenues to its economy.

“As has been illustrated in our previous reports, countries that rely on single commodities for income are generally not successful generators of overall prosperity,” the study said.

“Some nations in the Middle East and North Africa, such as Kuwait and Iraq, generate an enormous share of their wealth through oil rent whereas others such as the UAE have reduced this through economic diversification.”

For the UAE, revenues from oil as a percentage of gross domestic product stands at 11.2 per cent whereas for Iraq that figure is 28.6 per cent and 38.5 per cent for Kuwait.

At the top end of the index, Norway regained the number one spot from New Zealand. In all, the measure examines 104 indicators and over 15,000 data points.

The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S

Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900

Engine: 937cc

Transmission: Six-speed gearbox

Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm

Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km

Schedule

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How to apply for a drone permit

Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
Submit their request

What are the regulations?

Fly it within visual line of sight
Never over populated areas
Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
Should have a live feed of the drone flight
Drones must weigh 5 kg or less

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013

Results

2pm: Serve U – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Violent Justice, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)

2.30pm: Al Shafar Investment – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Desert Wisdom, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ahmed Al Shemaili

3pm: Commercial Bank of Dubai – Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Fawaareq, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

3.30pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer

4pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Rakeez, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar

4.30pm: Al Redha Insurance Brokers – Handicap (TB) Dh78,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Capla Crusader, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly

'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'

Director:Michael Lehmann

Stars:Kristen Bell

Rating: 1/5

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.

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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5