The UAE leads global rankings in 10 key healthcare competitiveness indicators for 2025.
Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), in collaboration with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, announced that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) secured first place globally in 10 healthcare competitiveness indicators in 2025.
The results are based on findings from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Report, the Prosperity Index Report, and the Global Gender Gap Report.
Additionally, the UAE ranked among the top ten globally in seven other healthcare-related competitiveness indicators.
Foundations of leadership
The UAE has achieved significant and unprecedented milestones in the healthcare sector, driven by visionary and forward-looking leadership.
This progress supports sustainable development, strengthens investment in human health and well-being, and contributes to building a prosperous future marked by continued achievement.
The country’s 2025 performance across various global reports reflects the efficiency of its healthcare system, the comprehensiveness and innovation of its services, and its adherence to the highest international quality standards.
This further reinforces the UAE’s position among the world’s leading nations in healthcare delivery.
International standing
Global health indicators continue to strengthen the UAE’s international standing and support the development of strategic planning and empowerment frameworks to achieve future goals and anticipate the future of healthcare in the country.
The UAE’s leadership across multiple health indicators is driven by its advanced capabilities and robust infrastructure, in line with the goals of UAE Centennial 2071 and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
The UAE healthcare sector continues to keep pace with global advancements through the adoption of modern policies, procedures, and medical protocols, the implementation of international accreditation standards, and the strengthening of patient safety measures.
It also prioritizes proactive healthcare strategies, continuous improvement in medical workforce performance indicators, and the integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare services.
First place achievements
Based on an analysis conducted by relevant health authorities of global competitiveness indicators for 2025, the UAE ranked first worldwide in:
- Sex ratio at birth (female/male), according to the Global Gender Gap Report
- Birth registration by civil authority for children under five, according to the SDG Report
The UAE also secured first place globally in additional healthcare-related indicators, including:
- Tuberculosis incidence (per 100,000 population)
- Maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births)
(both according to the SDG Report)
Prenatal care and preventive health
Six global health indicators
The 2025 Prosperity Index Report identified six health-related indicators in which the UAE ranked first globally, including:
- Coverage of prenatal care
- Absence of deaths and injuries from natural disasters
- Availability of national early detection programmes
- Healthcare coverage
- Low levels of household air pollution from fuel use
- Measles immunisation
The measles immunisation indicator measures the percentage of children aged 12–23 months who received at least one dose of the vaccine before the age of one or at any time prior to the survey.
A child is considered adequately immunised after receiving one dose of the vaccine.
Measles immunisation is mandatory for all school students across all educational levels in the UAE, from kindergarten through Grade 12 or equivalent, except in cases of documented medical exemptions.
Vaccination is provided free of charge and administered in schools.
Early disease detection
The UAE’s leading global rankings in prenatal care coverage, absence of disaster-related deaths and injuries, and availability of early detection programmes are attributed to the implementation of key national initiatives and projects.
These include programmes targeting both communicable and non-communicable diseases, along with strengthened health surveillance systems designed to enable early detection and rapid response to epidemics.
Healthcare authorities also provide comprehensive periodic screenings to prevent non-communicable diseases as part of the National Strategy for Combating Non-Communicable Diseases.
These efforts aim to enable early diagnosis, making treatment more effective, less costly, and easier to manage.
Top 10 rankings
The UAE’s achievements go beyond securing first place in 10 indicators, as it also ranked among the top ten globally in seven additional healthcare competitiveness indicators in 2025.
These include:
- Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 (%) (SDG Report)
- Health infrastructure (World Competitiveness Yearbook)
- Healthy life expectancy (World Competitiveness Yearbook)
- Health infrastructure (World Talent Report)
- Satisfaction with healthcare services
- Low incidence of health problems
- Tuberculosis treatment coverage (Prosperity Index Report)
UAE health authorities and strategic partners have implemented a range of preventive strategies and programmes to reduce and control tuberculosis, including the standardisation of surveillance methods and treatment systems.
Integrated treatment system
The UAE’s healthcare legislation ensures access to treatment for residents diagnosed with tuberculosis and supports the integration of previously unregistered cases into the national healthcare and treatment system.
The introduction of advanced diagnostic tools, along with innovative programmes and initiatives, has significantly contributed to reducing infection rates. Tuberculosis medications are consistently available, alongside ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of healthcare professionals involved in related programmes.
Preventive vaccination is administered to children at birth, and early screening programmes are in place, including mandatory medical fitness examinations for residency applicants.
