The UAE ranked 46th globally and second in the Arab world with an overall score of 7.42 out of 10 in the Fraser Institute's Economic Freedom of the World 2026 Annual Report. The country led the Gulf in legal systems and property rights as well as international trade freedom. Bahrain ranked first in the region at 40th globally.
Chinese technology investments in the Gulf Arab states are increasingly intersecting with American technology footprints, particularly across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. While China supplies cloud services, 5G networks, and smart-city systems, the US provides advanced graphics processing units and leading foundation models. Both regional governments are simultaneously pursuing sovereign computing capabilities while balancing partnerships across both ecosystems.
Digital asset manager 3iQ announced that its subsidiary 3iQ Middle East Ltd has secured in-principle approval for a Category 4 license from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market. The regulatory milestone follows a partnership with UAE-based Further to connect institutional investors via 3iQ's Managed Account Platform. Final operational permissions remain subject to meeting additional regulatory conditions set by ADGM.
Sixty-one private mediators specializing in civil and commercial disputes have officially taken the legal oath before the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. The appointment aims to enhance alternative dispute resolution and accelerate case settlements through mutual agreements. Officials stated the mechanism provides swift, confidential dispute resolution to support business continuity and investment.
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