The UAE has been ranked in the top 15 globally for its record on human rights, well ahead of its neighbours in the Gulf region.

The first International Human Rights Rank Indicator (IHRRI) issued by the Switzerland-based Global Network for Rights and Development (GNRD) placed the UAE in 14th place, based on a total of 21 human rights indicators.

The next best-ranked Gulf nation was Bahrain, which was positioned 94th out 216 countries covered.

The indicators included the right to liberty and security, the right to acceptable conditions of work, rights of foreigners, freedom of religion, health, education, and the right to adequate standard of living.

Saudi Arabia (206th) was one of the worst performers in the world while Oman (95th), Kuwait (96th), Qatar (120th) were also ranked lowly.

Norway, Sweden, Australia, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein were the top five ranked countries for human rights while Chad, Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Rwanda filled the bottom five.

In a statement, GNRD described its IHRRI as the most trustful and complete international human rights rank indicator, reflecting live data on the respect for human rights in 216 countries.

"We introduced today a real, bias-free international human rights rank indicator that is unique in its implementation." GNRD said, adding: "Human rights need careful attention and neutral attitude, the brighter and wider the violations of human rights are presented the better measures are taken on the way to stop them."

GNRD said it acts in cooperation with various international organisations, governments and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to make the outcomes "full and veritable".

On Thursday, a report by the Walk Free Foundation charity said nearly 100,000 people are living in slavery across the Gulf.

A total of 95,411 people living in the region are "enslaved", a majority of which are in Saudi Arabia (57,504), noted the index which ranked 162 countries on the number living in slavery, the risk of enslavement, and the strength of government responses to combating the illegal activity.

Saudi Arabia was the worst offender in the Gulf, ranked 82nd while the UAE (18,713) was placed 88th, Bahrain (2,679) and Qatar (4,168) were ranked equal 96th, Oman (5,739) was three places lower with Kuwait (6,608) in 100th place.

Globally, nearly 30 million people are living in slavery across the globe, many of them men, women and children trafficked by gangs for sex work and unskilled labour, according to the index.