Sheikh Mohammed lauds UAE's ranking as most trusted government

The UAE is among the world's most trusted nations, jumping one place to be ranked fourth in 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer.

Released at the World Economic Forum on Monday, the data showed that the UAE residents' trust is even higher in the government as it is the world's second most trusted government after China.

Applauding the achievement, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, tweeted this:

The UAE has ranked No. 2 worldwide for 'public trust in government' in Edelman's Trust Barometer, the seventh year we have ranked so highly. Our citizens' trust and their confidence in us is our greatest asset and biggest achievement.

- HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) January 23, 2018

Overall trust on the UAE institutions - government, NGOs, media and businesses jumped six points - one of the highest gains in the world - to 66 in 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer released ahead of the World Economic Forum.

Similarly, the UAE residents' trust on the media witnessed the biggest jump of 12 points, reaching 56 points. The citizens of China, Indonesia and India posed highest trust on their media institutions.

While the trust of UAE residents increased in platforms such as search engines and social media by six points. However, trust on the UAE employers remained unchanged at 76 points, higher than the global average of 72 points.

The residents' trust in NGOs and businesses also grew six points to 61 and four points to 68 - respectively.

The emirate, however, retained its fourth ranking as the informed public in the survey of 28 countries.

The UAE Trust Index has grown from 57 in 2012 to 66 in 2018.

Globally, China was the most trusted nation of 2018, followed by Indonesia, India, the UAE, Singapore, Mexico, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Canada and Argentina.

Among the to top gainers and losers, the US and Italy saw their trust ranking slumping 9 and 5 points - respectively. Trust decline in the US was the steepest ever measured. While China was the top gainer with 7 points followed by the UAE (6 points) and South Korean (also 6 points).

Among other finds, technology (75%) remains the most trusted industry sector followed by education (70%), professional services (68%) and transportation (67%). Financial services (54%) was once again the least trusted sector along with consumer packaged goods (60%) and automotive (62%).

While companies headquartered in Canada (68%), Switzerland (66%), Sweden (65%) and Australia (63%) are most trusted.

The least trusted country brands are Mexico (32%), India (32%), Brazil (34%) and China (36%). Trust in brand US (50%) dropped five points, the biggest decline of the countries surveyed.

Nearly seven in 10 respondents worry about fake news and false information being used as a weapon.

-waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com