DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates ranks number one in the world for treating women with respect, according to a major scientific study comparing development and well-being among all 132 nations of the world.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said the evidence on respect for women reflected fundamental truths about Emirati culture and traditions.

“We have the deepest respect for women. We respect their sacrifices and their dedication as partners in the building of our nation. In many sectors they have been able to contribute more than men because UAE society gives women a supportive environment to achieve their full potential. Their contributions have outweighed those of men in many sectors, and this reflects the supportive environment that the UAE has always provided for women.”

The global Social Progress Index also ranked the UAE as number one for the lowest level of violent crime, the lowest homicide rate, the lowest undernourishment rate, and the highest rate of enrolment in secondary education.

The report was produced by a team of prominent international economists led by Professor Michael Porter of Harvard Business School, as part of an initiative launched by the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council.

The index is designed as an objective and transparent measure that is more holistic than relying only on economic indicators to judge a country’s overall well-being. It includes 54 measures that track the capacity of a society to meet the basic human needs of its citizens, to establish the building blocks that allow citizens and communities to enhance and sustain the quality of their lives, and to create the conditions for all individuals to reach their full potential.

For the index as a whole, the UAE ranked number one in the Middle East and 37th worldwide.

