According to the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer, the UAE government is ranked third globally in terms of public trust in government performance.

The Highness of the UAE’s vice president, prime minister, and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, celebrated the accomplishment on his X account and expressed delight in the nation’s new milestone.

“The UAE government ranked third globally in terms of public trust in government performance, according to the recently released 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer’s Global Report in New York,” Sheikh Mohammed said. Over fifty years of authenticity, diligence, and success, trust has been established.

He went on to say: “Today, reliability is further solidified, and this trust keeps growing under the direction of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The nation’s goal to establish the greatest growth model and the finest standard of living in the world is being advanced by the growing support for their government and leadership.

While many countries are grappling with dwindling trust—thanks to misinformation and the strain of rising living costs—the UAE stands out as a pillar of stability. 

According to the latest report, now in its 25th year and based on insights from over 33,000 respondents across 28 countries, confidence in business and government remains remarkably high.

Since its debut in the Edelman Trust Barometer in 2010, the United Arab Emirates has maintained a constant ranking as one of the most trustworthy countries in the world. Respondents believe that the country’s institutions and leadership are trustworthy because of their competence and moral character.

The Latest Report for the UAE Shows:

• Trust in Government in the UAE is Among the Highest Measured: The UAE government is the most trusted organization in the nation, with 82% of the vote. The average level of trust in government worldwide is 52%.
• Strong Confidence in Business: 62% of respondents worldwide believe that business is the only institution they can trust, and 76% of respondents in the United Arab Emirates agree.
• Trust in Professionals and Societal Influences Remains High in the UAE: Trust is influenced by particular circles and developed locally, as seen by the high levels of trust enjoyed by teachers (85%) and fellow residents (79%).
• Trust and Optimism are Linked: Compared to the global average of 36%, 60% of people in the United Arab Emirates, one of the most trusted nations in the research, think that the next generation will be better off than we are now.

UAE respondents continue to have faith in international organizations despite worries about globalization and a possible economic downturn. Only ten nations (67%) and eight nations (66%) have more trust in the United Nations and the European Union, respectively, than the United Arab Emirates.

Globally, trust is in crisis, but the UAE stands as a strong exception. People feel disconnected, unsure of which sources to believe, and increasingly convinced that the systems meant to support them are actually working against them. 

This growing divide between social classes and the erosion of reliable information have led to a breakdown in trust worldwide—something the UAE has managed to avoid.

The worldwide research, which was presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos, emphasizes the widespread skepticism that is motivated by

• Concern Over Misinformation: 63% of respondents worldwide claim that it becomes more difficult to figure out between information from reliable sources and that which is purposefully misleading.
• Distrust in Global Leadership: Respondents worry that the media and journalists are purposefully misleading them.
• Economic Disparity Fuels Scepticism: Globally, two out of three individuals think that the wealthy are the cause of many of our issues and do not pay their fair amount of taxes.
• Mass-Class Divide Deepens: Even if there was a common distrust in 2012 after the global financial crisis, there is a 13-point difference in institutional trust levels between high- and low-income groups worldwide.
• Diminishing Optimism for Future Generations: Globally, only 36% of individuals think that the future generation will live in greater prosperity than we do, with France having the lowest optimism at 9%.

“Edelman has been measuring trust for 25 years and first included the UAE in 2010,” stated Omar Qirem, CEO of Edelman Middle East. The data presents a convincing success story: for more than 10 years, trust in the UAE has remained consistently high.

This contrasts significantly with a large portion of the rest of the globe, which is still struggling with a crisis of global trust. Pessimism has become pervasive as a result of this collapse of confidence.

“The UAE has shown that trust develops when institutions behave ethically and professionally. Optimism triumphs over uncertainty in an environment of trust, opening the door to a better future in which everyone can have faith.”