UAE Ranks Top of Arab Knowledge Index, Again

Last week it was announced the UAE has been ranked top of the Arab Knowledge Index, a new regional indicator and initiative by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF) and the United NAtions Development Programme (UNDP).

The UAE scored an impressive 72.5 overall, with 'Pre-university Education' indicators scoring the highest of all nations with a total of 69, closely followed by: Saudi and Bahrain both on 67 and Qatar with 66.

According to the Khaleej Times, the index, “covers every Arab country - monitors the status of knowledge in the Arab world based on six main indices - pre-university education, technical vocational education and training, higher education, information and communications technology, economy, and research and development and innovation.”

Each component in the index is comprehensively monitored and assessed by a team of experts from across the region.

MBRF Managing Director Jamal bin Huwaireb told the press that the new index should not be used as a ranking system as it looks at the historical, national and cultural countries listed individually.

He went on to say, "we as Arab countries can help enable others to catch up, as we have the same culture and same language."

And, possibly the UAE has a lot to teach those at the bottom end of the index. The 2015 index, 'Pre-University Education' alone, saw several countries languishing at the bottom end of the tables including: Mauritania with 21, Libya 27, Somalia 28 and Yemen with 40.

Jamal bin Huwaireb noted that the UAE's high score could potentially be used as an “example for other countries in the Arab World.”

"The Arab countries can take the UAE experience as a model," he said. "One day they'll reach our level."