UAE Ranks First In Arab World, 17th Internationally In "World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2018"

DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 21st Jun, 2018) The UAE achieved the first position in the Arab World and 17th internationally in the "World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2018," which was issued by the World Competitiveness Centre at the International Institute for Management Development, IMD, in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The UAE advanced one position in the 2018 report in many major and minor indicators, most notably its first place internationally in the "business Sector Flexibility" category, as well as third internationally in the "Regulatory Frameworks for Information Technology" category and fourth internationally in the "Skills Availability" category.

It also took second place internationally in the minor categories of "Availability of Skilled Foreign Adequacies," "Cyber Security" and "Companies’ Flexibility."

Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director-General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, TRA, praised the role of the country’s government and federal and local institutions in achieving its goals and ambitions related to the sustainable development process of its technological environment, infrastructure, regulations, skills, and the interactions between individuals and organisations.

He stated that technology currently plays a key role in the success of the economic and social developmental plans of developed economies.

Therefore, the UAE has adopted, in line with the vision of the wise leadership, an innovation policy, to promote cooperation between individuals and the government and federal and local authorities, he added.

Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Director-General of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, FCSA, highlighted the importance of modern technology in supporting the international competitiveness of countries and economies.

He added that the UAE’s efforts to develop and improve its technological infrastructure, support training initiatives and the development of national information technology skills, and promote research and development guarantee its leading international role in the telecommunications and information technology sectors while ranking it among the world’s leading economies, based on its knowledge and competitiveness.

Malik Al Madani, Director of the Competitiveness Strategy Department at the FCSA, connected the country’s performance in this year’s rankings with the vision of the wise leadership to adopt a smart government and improve public services.