UAE pension system upgraded to B grade in 2026 Global Pension Index

The UAE's pension system has recorded an improvement in the 2026 Global Pension Index, with its overall score rising to 70.0 from 64.9 in 2025, according to an assessment published by Marsh (formerly Mercer) and CFA Institute. The improvement resulted in the UAE's retirement-income system being upgraded from a C+ to a B grade.

According to the report, the UAE earned A grades in the categories of adequacy and integrity, reflecting strong protections and benefits for insured participants. The Global Pension Index evaluates national retirement frameworks across three pillars—adequacy, sustainability, and integrity—while factoring in broader demographic and socioeconomic metrics.

The General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) stated that the index offers an international benchmark to measure the domestic pension framework and identify areas for ongoing refinement. The authority highlighted that long-term pension sustainability remains a national priority to protect both current beneficiaries and future generations.

The upgrade follows legislative and operational updates in the UAE pension sector, notably the implementation of Federal Decree-Law No. 57 of 2023 on Pension and Social Security. The GPSSA noted that it has also expanded digital services and rolled out targeted financial literacy programmes to support earlier retirement planning.