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United Arab Emirates UNITED ARAB EMIRATES he United Arab Emirates’ economic freedom score is 76.9, making T its economy the 14th freest in the 2021 Index. Its overall score has increased by 0.7 point, primarily because of an improvement in fiscal health. The United Arab Emirates is ranked 1st among 14 countries in the WORLD RANK: REGIONAL RANK: Middle East and North Africa region, and its overall score is above the 14 1 regional and world averages. The economy of the United Arab Emirates has maintained its standing ECONOMIC FREEDOM STATUS: among the ranks of the mostly free this year. Additional economic free- MOSTLY FREE dom is essential, however, if the government is to succeed in diversifying away from reliance on the hydrocarbons sector. Substantial reductions in subsidy payments would likely raise Index indicator scores for govern- ment spending and monetary freedom. More regulatory openness to foreign investment would also be a plus. IMPACT OF COVID-19: As of December 1, 2020, 576 deaths had been attributed to the pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, and the econ- omy was forecast to contract by 6.6 percent for the year. ECONOMIC FREEDOM SCORE ▲ UP 0.7 POINT 76.9 0 50 60 70 80 100 REGIONAL AVERAGE WORLD (MIDDLE EAST/ AVERAGE 61.6 62.6 NORTH AFRICA REGION) HISTORICAL INDEX SCORE CHANGE (SINCE 1996): +5.3 RECENT FREEDOM TREND QUICK FACTS POPULATION: UNEMPLOYMENT: 9.8 million 2.4% 77.6 77.6 76.9 76.2 76.9 GDP (PPP): INFLATION (CPI): $744.1 billion –1.9% 1.3% growth in 2019 5-year compound FDI INFLOW: $13.8 billion annual growth 2.3% $69,901 per capita PUBLIC DEBT: 26.6% of GDP 2019 data unless otherwise noted. Data compiled as of September 2020 BACKGROUND: The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven monarchies: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Qaiwain. The Federal Supreme Council selects the pres- ident and vice president for five-year terms, and there are no term limits. Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan has been president since 2004. In July 2020, the UAE merged half of all federal agencies with other authorities and ministries. The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Oil and gas account for about 30 percent of GDP. A peace agreement signed with Israel in September 2020 should clear the way for increased trade, investment, technological coop- eration, tourism, and strategic cooperation against Iran, which both the UAE and Israel regard as the chief threat to regional stability. 422 2021 Index of Economic Freedom WORLD AVERAGE | ONE-YEAR SCORE CHANGE IN PARENTHESES 12 ECONOMIC FREEDOMS | UNITED ARAB EMIRATES RULE OF LAW GOVERNMENT SIZE (+0.5) (–3.5) (+1.4) (+0.8) (+0.9) (+4.4) 80.8 81.1 66.0 100.0 73.0 98.5 Property Judicial Government Tax Government Fiscal Rights E ectiveness Integrity Burden Spending Health Mechanisms for enforcing property rights are predictable and The UAE has no income tax and no federal-level corporate fair, although each emirate establishes its own procedures for tax. Different corporate tax rates exist in some emirates, and land ownership. The judiciary is not independent, and court a value-added tax has been in force since 2018. The overall rulings are subject to review by the political leadership, but tax burden equals 0.1 percent of total domestic income. the rule of law is generally well maintained. The UAE is one Government spending has amounted to 30.0 percent of total of the least corrupt countries in the region, but nepotism output (GDP) over the past three years, and budget deficits and corruption persist, and the government generally have averaged 0.3 percent of GDP. Public debt is equivalent lacks transparency. to 26.6 percent of GDP. REGULATORY EFFICIENCY OPEN MARKETS (+1.4) (+0.3) (+1.0) (+1.0) (No change) (No change) 80.0 81.6 80.6 81.4 40.0 60.0 Business Labor Monetary Trade Investment Financial Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom The United Arab Emirates has cut the fees for business The United Arab Emirates has four preferential trade incorporation. Lowering the number of inspections and agreements in force. The trade-weighted average tariff rate using a risk-based approach have made it easier to deal is 4.3 percent, and 73 nontariff measures are in effect. Efforts with construction permits. Labor unions and worker strikes to attract greater foreign investment continue. The cabinet are prohibited. According to the IMF, the government has designated 122 economic activities across 13 sectors as was projected to spend 1.4 percent of GDP on subsidies eligible for up to 100 percent foreign ownership. The financial in 2020. sector is modern and competitive, and the presence of foreign institutions in banking is strong. The Heritage Foundation | heritage.org/Index 423.
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