The Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD) also ranks the UAE as number one globally for low government debt, effective corporate boards, and quality of air transport.

The UAE has the most efficient government, the strongest decision-making process and the lightest bureaucracy in the world, while Dubai topped all global cities for its lowest tax rate, bustling construction activity and swift airport access, two prestigious surveys by international institutions revealed on Wednesday.

The Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD) also ranks the UAE as number one globally for low government debt, effective corporate boards, and quality of air transport.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in a personal message to government employees, welcomed the findings of “The World Competitiveness Yearbook 2014” released on Wednesday.

“The title of ‘most efficient government in the world’ was earned by the commitment and dedication of every member of the UAE government team. We are truly transforming public service in the UAE, and here is the proof. We have shown what can be achieved on the world stage by a small nation with big ideas,” Shaikh Mohammed said.

The Vice-President also urged government employees to sustain their ongoing drive to improve the quality of government service, cautioning against complacency.

“Let us never forget: competitiveness is a race with no finish line. We must never stop improving: even as Number One, we have a duty to do better tomorrow, and every day. Because this is also a race with the richest of prizes: a government that delivers happiness and prosperity to all of the people of the UAE,” Shaikh Mohammed said.

Dubai, as the only Middle Eastern city in PwC’s “Cities of Opportunity” report, has been positioned 16th overall in the latest study that takes the pulse of 30 cities at the heart of the world’s economy and culture.

Dubai topped fifth in global affordability, that measures cost of living, purchasing power and corporate tax rates, behind only San Francisco, Los Angeles, Johannesburg and Toronto, PwC said in a statement.

Dubai was also ranked seventh as an urban gateway, replacing Los Angeles in the Top 10, bolstered by the efficiency of its airport connections to central business districts for which it ranked first globally.

The IMD report is a worldwide reference point for the competitiveness of nations. It covers 60 countries and analyses how well each economy manages its resources in order to generate prosperity for people.

On the headline measure of global competitiveness, the UAE ranked eigth in the world for 2014, above Denmark (ninth) and Norway (10th). The UAE also ranked eigth in the previous year.

The IMD report is based on more than 330 sub-indices based on statistical indicators and questionnaire data.

The UAE is number two in the world on four sub-indices: strong trade balance, budget surplus, ease of doing business, and labour force growth.

The country, the Arab world’s second largest economy, ranked number three in the world on measures of the current account balance, transparency, and stock markets.

The survey participants, all international business executives, attributed the UAE’s attractiveness to economic dynamism, a business-friendly environment, competent government, reliable infrastructure and a competitive tax regime.