UAE ranks 30th on UNDP Index

Annual report shows country is above average of other Arab states in human development.

Abu Dhabi: The UAE was ranked 30th in 2011 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) out of 187 countries globally in its latest Global Human Development Report released here yesterday.

"Between 1980 and 2011, the UAE's Human Development Index (HDI) value has increased by 30 per cent and developed from the medium to long term," UNDP said in the report.

The HDI provides a composite measure of three basic dimensions of human development : health, education and income.

The UAE's 2011 HDI is above the average of other Arab states, UNDP added.

"The UAE continues to evolve as a world leader in promoting dialogue on fundamental global challenges, and this year at the World Future Energy summit, the UAE is providing an innovative platform for international policy makers, business decision makers and investors to explore global energy challenges with the view of creating real and sustainable solutions," said Elissar Sarrouh, UN Resident Coordinator at the regional launch of the 2011 Human Development Report.

Norway, Australia, Netherlands, USA, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, Leichtenstein, Germany and Sweden came in the first ten places in the index of human development world report 2011.

Speaking on the occasion, Mohammad Ahmad Bin Abdul Aziz Al Shehi, Director General of the Ministry of Economy said the wise leadership of the state used the oil revenues to establish new stages in social and economical development and focus on developing the state's infrastructure of schools, hospitals, ports and airports.

Opportunities

Mohammad Omar Abdullah, Undersecretary of the Department of Economic Development (DED), Abu Dhabi said the UAE realised early the importance of providing equitable opportunities for all citizens, giving them the same rights and responsibilities as this has a great impact on sustainable development and a prosperous.

Amatul Aleem Sowsawa, UN General Secretary Assistant for UNDP in the Arab region said in the field of health care, the UAE has invested vigorously and wisely during the past 40 years.

Sowsawa said average life expectancy had improved, and was now 76 years.

"In education, UAE has achieved clear progress gradually along the past 30 years," he added.

Economic progress

The growth in the UAE's gross domestic product (GDP) was 4 per cent in 2011, a senior government official said here yesterday.

"UAE has accomplished a remarkable economic progress. It has become the second biggest GCC economy, as its GDP grew from Dh6.5 billion in 1971 to Dh1,248 billion currently, as of real value," Abdullah Lootah, Secretary General of Emirates Competitiveness Council, said while speaking at the launch of United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Human Development Report 2011.

The country's economic growth for last year exceeded UAE Central Bank's expectations which had estimated a growth of more than 3 per cent for 2011. The annual pace of growth in the UAE economy was 2.5 per cent in 2010.