The UAE ranks first globally for how well its financial system supports SME growth, according to the 2026 Global Financial Inclusion Index. Its score of 96.4 placed it ahead of Saudi Arabia at 95.2.

Principal Financial Group and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) produce the Index.

It ranks 42 markets on support from governments, financial systems and employers.

Overall, the UAE rose one place to 21st and Saudi Arabia climbed three places to 27th.

Government support drove both moves, rising 1.4 points in the UAE and 5.1 points in Saudi Arabia.

Last year, by contrast, the region’s gains came mainly from the financial system.

Globally, views of how the financial system supports business confidence and SME growth fell.

Both Gulf markets, however, improved on these measures. Each also ranks in the global top five for public views of financial inclusion.

“The UAE and Saudi Arabia have paired digitisation with visible changes in government and financial system support, and people are noticing,”

said Charles Brooke at Principal Asset Management.

On employer support, the UAE placed seventh. Its score of 68.5 was above the global average of 65.7. Worldwide, employer scores fell for the second year in a row.

This year’s report also rated national fintech strategies. Saudi Arabia scored 20 out of 20, the highest of any market, and was named one of five “Next Gen Leaders”.

The UAE was listed as a “Quantum Leaper” for its progress in digital financial infrastructure.

The global inclusion score reached a record 52 out of 100. Even so, public views of financial inclusion fell to their lowest level yet.

Featured image: Edited by Fintech News UAE, based on image by swampfire via Magnific.