The UAE has made impressive turnaround in global talent competitiveness jumping five spots to claim 17th place in the IMD World Talent Report 2024. This ranking puts the Emirates ahead of several advanced economies including Canada, the US, France, and the UK.

The UAE climbed to 12th spot in the appeal sub-index due to its attractive tax-free income and abundant career opportunities. The country has also boosted its readiness factor rising from third in 2020 to second in 2024, bouncing back from a dip to seventh in 2022.

UAE stands tall as the leader in the Arab world reinforcing its vision of becoming a knowledge and innovation hub in the coming decade. Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy highlighted the government's dedication to attracting top talent and expanding global investment.

In contrast, neighbouring countries faced mixed results where Kuwait slipped to 31st, Saudi Arabia rose to 32nd, Bahrain fell to 40th, and Qatar dropped to 42nd.

However, Switzerland, Singapore, and Luxembourg top the talent competitiveness rankings. The report warns of rising discrimination linked to AI in the workplace which could hinder high-income economies like Japan, the UK, and Canada from attracting top talent. José Caballero, a senior economist at the IMD World Competitiveness Centre cautions that such practices could damage a country’s reputation and competitive edge in the long run.

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