UAE Secures Global Trust And Leadership In Innovation, Setting A Benchmark For Government-Business Collaboration

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has secured its position as the world's third most trusted country across all four key institutions: government, business, NGOs, and media, according to the Edelman Trust Barometer. This comprehensive survey, which involved 32,000 respondents from 28 countries, focused on innovation.

While the global landscape grapples with disruptive changes and hesitations regarding adopting innovative solutions to address contemporary challenges, the UAE stands out for its wholehearted embrace of innovation. The country's long-term commitment to this issue has been instrumental in shaping its reputation.

For instance, the UAE was the first country worldwide to appoint a Minister of Artificial Intelligence in 2017. It established the Mohammed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in 2019, the first graduate-level, research-based AI university.

The UAE's trust score of 74 is third globally, trailing behind China (78) and India (76). Following closely are Indonesia (73), Saudi Arabia (72), Thailand (70), Malaysia (68), Singapore (67), Kenya (64), and Nigeria (61).

Omar Qirem, CEO of Edelman Middle East, says, "Innovation is key to a thriving economy in today's competitive world. It leads to the creation of new technologies and services that can drive a nation forward. The results of this year's report demonstrate the remarkable impact the UAE's focus on innovation is having. The UAE has set the pace for a culture of innovation that is evident in daily life."

He highlights that the UAE serves as a "model” for the rest of the world. Notably, the government is trusted to seamlessly integrate innovation into society. However, there lies an opportunity for businesses to collaborate further with the government, fostering even greater trust in technology-driven transformations.

CEOs are also expected to champion changes that benefit society in a rapidly evolving landscape. This includes exploring future job skills (87% of respondents), understanding the impact of automation (85%), and leveraging technology for the greater good (84%).

The UAE's commitment to innovation and its collaborative approach between government and business exemplify a forward-thinking mindset that resonates globally.

In the last ten years, there has been a notable increase in the demand for innovation collaboration between businesses and governments. According to a recent report, 76% of participants expressed confidence in technological advancements driven by partnerships between companies and the government in the UAE, surpassing the global average of 60%.

In the 2023 rankings, India ascended from the fourth to the second position, while China maintained its top-ranking status. The United Kingdom took over the position of the least trusted nation from South Korea. The survey also indicated a decline in trust for companies headquartered in major global powers.

Approximately 63% of respondents globally expressed concerns that government leaders may intentionally spread misinformation or engage in significant exaggerations. The figures were 61% for business leaders and 64% for journalists. The survey highlighted a perception that science is increasingly losing its independence to the government, funders, and the political process.

In the United States, 67% of participants believed that science has become politicized, while in China 75% that governments and research-funding organizations exert too much influence on the scientific process. Governments faced distrust in 17 of the 28 countries surveyed, including the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Globally, the media remained the least trusted institution, with distrust observed in 15 out of 28 countries, including the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

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