UAE tops MENA ranking on global index measuring rule of law, crime

The UAE has topped the ranking for World Justice Project’s rule of law index in the MENA region for the second consecutive year.

The index measures how the rule of law is experienced by people in a specific country by evaluating the government’s effectiveness in reducing criminal behavior.

Factors include constraints on government powers, regulatory enforcement, open government, civil justice and fundamental rights.

Globally, the UAE ranked 27th on the index and was the only GCC country to be rated among the 102 nations featured.

The report said that the UAE retained the top regional position due to its adherence to order and security by which crime is effectively controlled, civil conflict is limited and people do not resort to violence to redress personal grievances.

The country topped this section in the region and was placed sixth globally in its adherence to order and security.

Meanwhile, the UAE scored 0.82 out of 1 in the absence of government corruption and 0.77 in the category measuring effective criminal justice. The scoring is based on answers drawn from a representative sample of 1,000 respondents in the three largest cities in a country, WJP, an independent organisation said.

Jordan ranked second in the index regionally while it held the 41st position in the global ranking. Other countries from the region that were rated in the index include Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt and Iran. Globally, the index was topped by Denmark.

Although located in a region that is mired in geopolitical instability, the UAE has remained relatively crime-free.

The Gulf Arab country has also stepped up spending to reduce risks from conflicts and improve its response to security issues. According to the global peace index by the Institute for Economics and Peace, the UAE spent nearly $26.8bn in 2014 to contain and deal with violence.

This is equivalent to 4.4 per cent of the UAE’s GDP and $2,872 per person, the report said.

In addition, the cost of violence to the UAE’s economy was the 36th highest total in the world and the 12th per capita.