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🇦🇪United Arab Emirates Political Stability: 62.3/100

United Arab Emirates scores 62.3 out of 100 on the Political Stability Index, rated "Stable" based on World Bank 2023 Worldwide Governance Indicators across six governance dimensions.

Stable
Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Composite score is the unweighted average of six governance dimensions, each measured on a 0-100 percentile scale.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is located in the Middle East, bordered by the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia. It features a diverse terrain that includes vast deserts, rolling sand dunes, and a coastline of nearly 650 km along the Persian Gulf. The climate is subtropical-arid, characterized by hot summers and warm winters, with average maximum temperatures exceeding 45 °C (113 °F) in the summer months.

The UAE has a diverse population with a significant expatriate community. The official language is Arabic, and the population is predominantly Muslim, with various other religions represented.

Governance Indicators

Government Effectiveness84/100
Control of Corruption78/100
Regulatory Quality74/100
Rule of Law70/100
Political Stability55/100
Voice & Accountability12/100

Governance Profile: United Arab Emirates

World Bank governance: rule of law 70th percentile, corruption control 78th percentile, political stability 55th percentile.

United Arab Emirates's strongest governance dimension is Government Effectiveness at 84/100, placing it in the top quartile globally. This points to comparatively high-quality public services and credible policy implementation.

The weakest dimension is Voice & Accountability at 12/100. Limited voice and accountability suggests constraints on citizen participation, expression, or media freedom.

A wide 72-point gap between the highest and lowest indicators signals deeply uneven governance. Strong performance in Government Effectiveness contrasts sharply with weakness in Voice & Accountability. This kind of imbalance often means that day-to-day experiences can vary dramatically depending on which government functions are involved.

Travelers to United Arab Emirates benefit from functional government institutions and reasonable regulatory frameworks. While not without challenges, the overall governance environment supports a manageable travel experience with adequate infrastructure and legal protections.

The U.S. State Department currently rates United Arab Emirates as Level 3 (Reconsider Travel). Elevated advisory levels combined with governance data paint a fuller picture of conditions on the ground that travelers should consider.

AS Governance Comparison

Top governance performers in AS based on the corruption composite ranking (weighted: 60% corruption control, 25% rule of law, 15% government effectiveness).

CountryScore
🇸🇬Singapore94.7
🇭🇰Hong Kong86.6
🇯🇵Japan83.7
🇦🇪United Arab Emirates77.1
🇧🇳Brunei76.1

Common Questions About United Arab Emirates's Political Stability

What is United Arab Emirates's political stability score?+
United Arab Emirates has a composite political stability score of 62.3 out of 100, placing it in the "Stable" category. This score is the average of six World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators for 2023: Voice & Accountability, Political Stability, Government Effectiveness, Regulatory Quality, Rule of Law, and Control of Corruption.
What do the World Bank governance indicators measure?+
The six indicators come from the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) project. Each measures a different dimension of governance on a 0-100 percentile scale. Voice & Accountability captures perceptions of citizen participation and media freedom. Political Stability measures the likelihood of political instability or violence. Government Effectiveness assesses the quality of public services and policy implementation. Regulatory Quality evaluates the government's ability to formulate sound policies. Rule of Law captures confidence in contract enforcement, property rights, and courts. Control of Corruption measures the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain.
How does United Arab Emirates's stability affect travel safety?+
Governance indicators provide context beyond traditional travel advisories. United Arab Emirates's strongest area is Government Effectiveness (84/100) and its weakest is Voice & Accountability (12/100). Strong governance generally correlates with reliable infrastructure, transparent regulations, and effective emergency services.
How does United Arab Emirates compare to other countries in AS?+
Within AS, United Arab Emirates ranks among 5 peer countries with available governance data. Its composite score of 62.3/100 places it in the lower half of the regional ranking.
When was this data last updated?+
The governance data on this page is from the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators 2023 dataset. The WGI project publishes annual updates covering over 200 countries. This page is refreshed every six hours to incorporate any new data from our sources.

More United Arab Emirates Data

United Arab Emirates Travel Advisory

Safety ratings, regional breakdown, and entry requirements.

United Arab Emirates Freedom Score

Not Free — 18/100 on the Freedom House index.

Interactive Advisory Map

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Official State Dept. Page →

Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.

Travel Advisory API

Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.

Travel Risk Reports

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