UAE Ranks Lowest for Political Participation Among Gulf States
UAE Ranks Lowest Again in Gulf Political Participation Index
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has once again ranked last in the Gulf Political Participation Index released by the Gulf House for Studies and Publishing.
The UAE placed fifth among the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, scoring 330 out of 1,000 points on the index.
The country showed slight progress in the Civil Society Institutions Metric, scoring 9 points. This improvement followed the introduction of a federal law regulating public benefit organizations, providing a framework for their operation, funding, and investment, while granting them the right to appeal government decisions.
The UAE also maintained a lead in the Gender Balance and Youth Inclusion Metric, achieving 70 out of 75 points, thanks to ongoing policies aimed at ensuring substantial representation for women and youth across state institutions.
In addition, the UAE recorded a relatively strong performance in the Representation of Groups and Minorities Metric, scoring 50 out of 100 points.
However, the UAE experienced a decline in the Freedom of Opinion and Expression Metric, dropping by one point. This was attributed to the retrial of political activists whose sentences had already been completed.
Notably, the UAE received a zero score in the Political Organizations Metric, reflecting the absence of political parties. It also lagged behind in the General Elections Metric, with no significant developments reported.
The UAE’s performance in the Transparency Metric remained poor, scoring 10 out of 50 points, due to the lack of independent societal oversight bodies tasked with ensuring transparency and auditing public expenditures.
Broader Findings of the Index
The report highlights a growing similarity among GCC countries in managing political systems, legislative frameworks, and governance mechanisms. This trend suggests potential exchange of practices or mutual influence due to the shared governance structures and social landscapes across the region.
While GCC governments are actively empowering citizens in developmental, economic, and social fields, there are no visible steps toward fostering organized political engagement or easing restrictions on freedom of speech.
The formation of political organizations, availability of opposition platforms, and protections for political activists remain significant challenges across all GCC states. Except for Bahrain, no GCC country permits the establishment of political organizations, with some explicitly criminalizing them.
Despite an increase in civil society organizations across the region, their roles and powers are often limited. Regulations impose strict controls on their activities and funding sources. Similarly, independent public oversight of government performance and spending remains minimal.
Legislative and advisory bodies in the GCC generally have restricted or non-existent powers regarding accountability and oversight.
The report also notes the absence of clear national strategies in GCC countries to expand political participation frameworks. Key areas requiring improvement include enhancing the authority of elected councils, reforming electoral laws, and promoting equal citizenship rights.
