Mundo’s country rating is essentially a freedom index whereby our team of specialists rate a combination of freedoms which include freedom from violence and personal attacks, financial freedom from high taxes, business freedom from government interference, and especially from socialism and communism.

In another article  we have already discussed the history, lifestyle, and other general aspects of the United Arab Emirates. Since its foundation, it has been one of the most stable countries in a region as complex as the Middle East. 

But despite being located in such a politically complex region, the UAE has established itself as a very attractive destination for tourism, investment and immigration. 

Generally, when people evaluate a country, they take into account some criteria that allow them to have an overview of its development, current situation, economy, and political stability, which is precisely what we will discuss below. 

Political Stability: 8

We know that the United Arab Emirates is a federation made up of 7 emirates since the 1960s when they achieved unification through an agreement between the sheikhs of that time after Great Britain withdrew from the territory. 

However, the country does not have a democratic system for electing leaders to high government positions. Each Emirate has its sheikh who governs it independently with its own administration. 

But there is a Federal Supreme Council where the 7 sheikhs of each emirate meet to make decisions on the executive and legislative branches of government. The sheikh of Abu Dhabi was elected president in 2004 at a meeting of this council, as Abu Dhabi is the country's largest oil producer and its capital. 

This country enjoys relative political stability compared to its neighbours, whose main characteristic is political instability. Recently, they had a diplomatic problem with Qatar, which involved some other states. 

Just as there are no elections of any kind to elect rulers as is customary in many countries, there are no political parties within the political sphere of this country, which means that power is held by the sheikhs of each emirate. 

However, despite having a touch of authoritarianism in this respect, the UAE has made itself one of the freest and most liberal countries in the Middle East in some aspects, and while there is no full democracy as we know it, the country has remained afloat and in constant growth despite this.

Personal Safety: 8 

The UAE, in the midst of its quest for modernisation, has also promoted the personal security of its citizens. The country's highly developed economy over the past decades has at the same time kept crime rates relatively low.

We are aware of the amount of conflict in the Middle East, both official and unofficial, and this could pose a risk to the citizens of this region, but in this country, in addition to a stable economy and a relatively consolidated political system, there is also good security on their streets. 

The fear of a terrorist attack is something that could be latent in the citizens of the UAE, but so far it has been the least common throughout its history, making it one of the safest countries in the Middle East region. 

One of the most striking aspects of the countries in this region is the treatment of women, and the UAE is actually quite advanced in this respect compared to its neighbouring countries, as they have more freedoms than elsewhere in the region, ensuring their personal safety at all times. 

Taxation: 9

The UAE is currently a magnet for billionaire tycoons from around the world, as it has one of the world's most booming business tax-havens. They have an attractive system for foreign investors, especially those wishing to get involved in construction and infrastructure. 

Generally speaking, the UAE's tax system is based on a territorial concept, as companies and enterprises doing business in the UAE through a permanent establishment in a specific emirate are formally taxed within its tax system, although corporate income is not taxed. 

It is worth mentioning that in most emirates, branches of foreign banks are taxed at approximately 20%. 

Deductions are determined based on the accounting principles of the emirates. However, these deductions in the UAE are not as large as one might think given that most companies in the UAE are not subject to income tax. 

Most of these emirates also take property tax into account municipally based on the rental value of the property. For example, in the emirate of Dubai, this tax is currently around 2.5% for commercial properties and 5% for residential properties. 

In addition, to register a property, a relatively small amount is also added to the tax, depending on the value of the property transfer. This tax in the emirate of Dubai is currently 4%. 

On top of all this, the emirates have some 100% tax-free zones, which are most attractive to foreign investors looking for a location whose interest is to promote this type of investment. 

These conditions are making the UAE a commercial epicentre in the new era of the 21st century, as its rulers aim to take their modernisation to the next level and become a global economic power. 

Business Opportunities: 10

The country's economy has suffered contractions in recent years, especially due to the covid-19 pandemic, but since its founding in the 1960s, They just understood that their income should not depend entirely on oil, so they opted for a diversified economy. 

The country's main industry is oil, and most of its income comes from it, but over the last few decades they have aimed to become less and less dependent on this resource, so they have allocated these funds to other industries, as well as promoting fiscal policies to encourage foreign investment. 

Today, industries such as tourism, real estate, manufacturing, construction, among others, have allowed the economy of these emirates to become more and more consolidated compared to previous years, in addition to the fact that this variety of industries represents a substantial value for foreigners, as they increasingly hire more foreign labour. 

This table shows the relationship between industries: