The tenth anniversary Knowledge Summit at Dubai World Trade Centre unveiled the results of the Global Knowledge Index 2025, placing the UAE at the top among Arab nations. Saudi Arabia came second, Qatar third. Globally, Switzerland continues to lead, followed by Singapore and Sweden, whose dominance in the knowledge-driven economy remains unchallenged.
The index evaluates countries by education systems, scientific research, innovation capacity, information technologies, and the overall ability of an economy to generate and apply knowledge. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation produces the index in partnership with the UN Development Programme. Countries use it to understand their standing and plan long-term development strategies. The very fact that governments care about these rankings underscores their importance for policymaking and investment.
Experts explained why knowledge is critical for development and how to make it accessible to all
Dr Hany Torky from the UNDP outlined the purpose of the index: to exchange successful practices and close development gaps between countries. He pointed out that collecting reliable data on education remains a challenge, and some governments still underestimate the importance of a knowledge-based economy. His key message was simple: everyone should have access to knowledge. It builds productive individuals who shape society. The internet has removed geographical barriers, but access barriers remain. Not everyone has connectivity, and that means part of humanity is cut off from the chance to learn and progress.
Pedro Conceição from the UN Human Development Reports Office stressed that rankings matter because they motivate governments to rethink policy. Knowledge, he said, is created by people working together, and investing in people and institutions inevitably leads to knowledge production. It is a simple logic often forgotten in the race for short-term outcomes.
Recent UAE real estate development news today illustrates how investment in educational infrastructure is already shaping the property market. Universities, research centres and tech parks attract young professionals and specialised talent, increasing demand for residential and commercial developments around academic and innovation districts.
Universities must sustain research, teaching and community engagement
Dr Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Minister of Higher Education of Sierra Leone, spoke from the perspective of a developing nation. She argued that universities must conduct research, ensure continuity, and provide environments for young innovators. Many developing countries, she said, still fail to prioritise knowledge in national policy – a mistake that leads to fragile economic growth.
Wurie highlighted the three core functions of a university:
- research
- teaching
- community engagement
All three are equally important, yet funding often flows only to teaching, leaving research and societal engagement underdeveloped. Without research, a university becomes merely a school. Without community work, it loses purpose.
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The summit explored how knowledge shapes cities and drives development
The forum focused on “Knowledge Markets: Building Sustainable Communities”. Knowledge is treated as a resource that circulates between institutions, countries and individuals. Unlike traditional markets, the knowledge market grows the more it is shared. If a discovery at one university accelerates progress at ten others, everyone benefits. If a Swiss innovation is adopted in Sierra Leone, both sides gain. This principle underpins both the index and the summit.
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For ten years, the Knowledge Summit has served as a platform for dialogue on how knowledge builds resilient societies. The world has changed dramatically during this period. The pandemic highlighted the value of scientific expertise. Climate crises proved that adaptation is impossible without research. Technological acceleration created new professions and erased old ones. All of this demands constant evolution of education.
The UAE’s rise to first place is no coincidence. The government invested heavily in education: opening universities, research centres, tech parks, attracting global faculty and students, creating favourable conditions for startups. This is a long-term strategy stretching across decades.
At the same time, property maintenance in Dubai is becoming more complex as scientific and educational clusters are growing near residential areas. Property managers must account for the needs of knowledge-economy tenants: high-speed connectivity, specialised workspaces, security standards and reliable building infrastructure. This is changing expectations for how residential and mixed-use properties are maintained and upgraded.
Pedro Conceição concluded that people create knowledge. It is not a resource that can be exhausted but one that continually regenerates as long as people think, learn and share. Investing in people is investing in an infinite resource — a lesson policymakers should treat with far more urgency.
