UAE second only to Singapore in terms of economic knowledge

The UAE ranks second in the world, just behind Singapore, in terms of economic knowhow, the first Global Knowledge Index shows.

But more needs to be done in innovation, research and development, according to the index launched at the Knowledge Summit in Dubai yesterday.

Compiled by the Knowledge Project, it identifies knowledge as an integral part of human life affecting social, economic and cultural aspects, and an engine for sustainable human development.

Overall, the UAE is ranked 25th out of 131 countries, and first in the Middle East.

The project is a collaboration between the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, the UN Development Programme and experts from the International Telecommunications Union, the World Bank, the University of Maastricht and Unesco, among others.

“This project shows the keenness of the UAE leadership and people to keep up with scientific development for the future,” said Jamal bin Huwaireb, chief executive of the foundation.

“Whatever we can’t measure, we can’t develop. Measuring knowledge around the world started in the Arab countries from 2015 and it wasn’t easy. We progressed from knowledge reports to a global index from which all of the government institutions can benefit.

“If we don’t have an index for what is happening today or our achievements, we won’t know our level and how to develop our tools and plans.”

For the economy, the index measures knowledge competitiveness including categories such as economic infrastructure and competition, competitiveness drivers, economic openness, creative economy and trade, and financing and domestic value added.

The index is based on indicators including: higher education, pre-university education, technical and vocational training, continued education, information and communications technology, scientific research and innovation, and economics.

It calculates 133 variables covering different sectors such as enrolment, graduation and dropout rates in schools.

Then there are literacy, unemployment, life expectancy at birth, e-government, political stability, regulatory and legal frameworks and patents, private-sector indicators and quality and availability of human resources.

“Most people in the UAE were illiterate back in 1971 but today it is almost non-existent – within only four decades,” Mr bin Huwaireb said.

The authors worked on the index for the past year. In terms of overall rankings, Switzerland came out on top, closely followed by Singapore, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, the US, Luxembourg, the UK, Denmark and Norway. Yemen ranked last.

A key issue the index exposed was a lack of data collection in parts of the Arab world.

“The Arab world must respect the data,” said Dr Hany Torky, chief technical adviser at the UN Development Programme and director of the Arab Knowledge Project.

“If they do, we can achieve knowledge. What we have now is a knowledge gap but it is diverse by country within the Arab region.”

Michael O’Neill, the assistant secretary general at the UN and a director at its development programme, said: “If you can’t measure something, you can’t manage it.

“So the first step, if we’re going to have effective policies whether in development or other fields to achieve the sustainable development goals, is that we need data.”

The UAE has come a long way for having no universities or schools 40 years ago.

“The UAE’s rank represents tremendous progress since 1971 but even beyond that the UAE appears second in the economy ranking, so it’s important to keep in mind these are practical illustrations of leadership and what we’re trying to achieve through such initiatives.

“The UNDP is here to help connect other countries with the UAE to benefit from their experience, leadership, support and the knowledge index represents a great example. We want to bring support to countries that face crises and tensions.”

Regional research and development centres are also needed. “If their numbers increase and governments allocate certain budgets to them, then the equation will change and we will become producers of knowledge,” Mr bin Huwaireb said.

“We will compete like other countries are now – such as Korea, China, India, Japan and Germany. I’m talking about a dire need. The Arab world will change if each country prioritises research and development because without them, we won’t reach our goals.”

The index will allow countries to study their strengths and weaknesses.

“It’s a region with a huge number of young people and the Arab world actually led the rest of the world in science, literature and exploration so it’s very important to keep this in mind,” Mr O’Neill said.

“Countries in this region can use this information to design effective policies and tackle challenges.”

A key issue the Global Knowledge Index exposed was a lack of data collection in parts of the Arab world