High income, social stability, and strong wellbeing keep the nation ahead of leading global economies.
Dubai: The 2026 World Happiness Report has once again ranked the United Arab Emirates as the happiest country in the Arab world, securing the 21st position globally and surpassing nations such as the US and UK.
The UAE has retained its ranking from the previous year, achieving a score of 6.821 out of 10 based on average life evaluations collected between 2023 and 2025. The report uses a three-year average to provide a more consistent assessment of people’s perceptions of their quality of life.
What are the key factors?
The rankings are determined by a combination of factors, including social support, GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, personal freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
According to the report, the UAE’s strong performance is underpinned by solid economic fundamentals, with GDP per capita reaching $69,564 and a healthy life expectancy of 67.3 years.
In addition, residents report experiencing more positive emotions than negative ones, reinforcing a widespread sense of well-being throughout the country.
Egypt at 139th and Lebanon at 141st.
Rankings of Other Arab Countries
Within the region, Saudi Arabia ranks just behind the UAE at 22nd globally, while Kuwait is 40th. Bahrain and Oman occupy the 55th and 58th spots, respectively.
Other Arab nations include Libya at 81st, Algeria at 83rd, and Iraq at 95th. Morocco and Jordan are ranked 112th and 119th, while Egypt is 139th and Lebanon 141st.
Happiest Countries Globally
Globally, Finland remains the world’s happiest country for the ninth consecutive year, followed by Iceland, Denmark, Costa Rica, and Sweden.
Among English-speaking nations, the United States ranks 23rd, while the United Kingdom is 29th.
The report is published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in partnership with Gallup analytics and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
