The United Arab Emirates topped the rating among Arab countries on the Global Innovation Index, WAM reported.

This year’s Global Innovation Index measured the performance of 128 countries and economies in the area of innovation which represents the majority of the global workforce and global GDP. The UAE ranked 41st worldwide in terms of overall performance on the index. Such countries of the Persian Gulf as Saudi Arabia (49), Qatar (50), Bahrain (57), Kuwait (67) were included in the top hundred.

In 2015, the UAE was second on this index among Arab countries, ahead of only Saudi Arabia.

The report for 2016 stated that the UAE improved its position in the ranking thanks to the progress in prerequisites for innovations such as the development of institutions and the maturity of the market.

The UAE ranked first in the world in terms of ease of paying taxes and the level of cluster development.