UAE maintains its status as one of the most secure nations globally
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to be recognised as one of the world's leading nations in the fight against terrorism, according to the latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report. The UAE's active role, supported by concerned firms and governmental technological committees, has been instrumental in this achievement.
The GTI, a trusted source for information on global terrorism, is one of the factors considered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) when assessing the UAE's efforts against terrorism. Based on a thorough analysis of factors influencing terrorism worldwide, the GTI ranks nations based on their risk of terrorist activities.
The UAE's success in maintaining a low risk of terrorist activities is due to its comprehensive, multi-faceted strategies and policies. These include strict legal designations and sanctions against terrorist individuals and groups, active international cooperation, and robust national security and financial controls to combat terrorist financing.
Specifically, the UAE has taken steps such as designating and sanctioning individuals who support terrorism at the Cabinet level, aligning with United Nations Security Council and global norms to disrupt terror networks and financing. The country is also recognised for its strong stance against human trafficking and terrorism, integrating these efforts into its foreign aid and international cooperation agenda.
The UAE's stable political and economic environment, coupled with its reputation as a tolerant society that hosts diverse nationalities with freedom of civil rights and religious practice, contributes to undermining extremism domestically.
Although explicit details of all internal counterterrorism policies are not fully elaborated, the UAE’s alignment with global anti-terrorism frameworks, designation of terror supporters, and leadership in combating terrorist financing constitute key pillars of its strategy to remain highly ranked in the GTI.
The Institute for Business Economics and Peace, responsible for the Global Terrorism Index, releases its outcomes annually. In the latest report, the UAE was ranked as one of the best places in the world in terms of a reduced risk of the spread of terrorist activities.
The MoFAIC provides national reports on the UAE's efforts to combat terrorism, and the last update of the GTI ranking for the UAE was on 20 January 2023. The GTI is a valuable resource for understanding the UAE’s efforts against terrorism and extremism, as well as global terrorism trends and patterns over the previous two decades.
In summary, the UAE’s strategies to fight terrorism consist of legal and regulatory frameworks to designate and sanction terrorists and supporters, measures to combat terrorist financing in line with international standards, active roles in global anti-terrorism and human trafficking campaigns, and maintaining socio-political stability and tolerance to reduce domestic drivers of extremism. These combined efforts underpin its strong position in the Global Terrorism Index.
- The UAE's business community, influenced by the nation's ongoing involvement in combating terrorism, is closely monitoring the latest news about global terrorism and political developments, given their potential impact on economic stability and security.
- The UAE's consistent ranking as one of the world's leading nations in the fight against terrorism, as noted in the Global Terrorism Index and general-news reports, has garnered significant attention in the crime-and-justice and politics sections of various news outlets, highlighting the country's effective strategies to reduce the risk of terrorist activities.
