The United Arab Emirates has the most competitive economy in the Arab world, followed by Qatar and Kuwait, said a report released in Doha on April 10 by the World Economic Forum. The Arab World Competitiveness Report 2007, which is based on the WEF's Global Competitiveness Report and classifies countries into three groups, said the UAE came first among the Arab countries at the third and most advanced stage of development.
But oil-rich UAE came only 29th in the group that included 40 countries, topped by Switzerland. Qatar followed at 32, while Kuwait and Bahrain came 35th and 39th, respectively.
Tunisia, meanwhile, came first among Arab countries in the second group which included countries in the middle stage of development. Ranked third among 40 countries, Tunisia was followed by Oman as eighth in the group headed by Malaysia.
Jordan which was classified ninth in the same group by the GCR in 2005-06 has dropped to 13th place. Libya and Algeria ranked 26th and 29th respectively.
In the group of the least advanced in development, Egypt led three other Arab countries as it came fourth after India, Indonesia and China. Morocco followed closely as seventh, and Syria as 12th. Muritania was ranked as 38th on the list, which included 48 countries.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2007
