The following data are from the State of the Global Workplace: 2026 Report (published April 2026; latest data collected January-December 2025). For more information, explore regional data summaries, global data summaries, or download the full report.
Employee Engagement in the United Arab Emirates
In the United Arab Emirates, 27% of employees are engaged at work. This compares to the Middle East and North Africa regional average of 14% and the global average of 20%. This reflects a 1-point increase from the prior three-year rolling average.
Data Table
| Three-Year Rolling Average Ending Year | Engaged (%) | Not Engaged (%) | Actively Disengaged (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 26 | 60 | 14 |
| 2013 | 19 | 64 | 16 |
| 2014 | 17 | 66 | 17 |
| 2015 | 15 | 67 | 18 |
| 2016 | 16 | 69 | 16 |
| 2017 | 19 | 69 | 12 |
| 2018 | 22 | 68 | 10 |
| 2019 | 23 | 67 | 10 |
| 2020 | 21 | 65 | 14 |
| 2021 | 25 | 61 | 14 |
| 2022 | 27 | 61 | 12 |
| 2023 | 29 | 59 | 12 |
| 2024 | 26 | 62 | 12 |
| 2025 | 27 | 60 | 13 |
Years with missing data indicate that results were either not collected or suppressed due to sample sizes below 300 respondents. Categories may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Life Evaluation in the United Arab Emirates
In the United Arab Emirates, 55% of employees are thriving in their overall lives. This compares to the Middle East and North Africa regional average of 26% and the global average of 34%. This reflects a 5-point increase from the prior three-year rolling average.
Data Table
| Three-Year Rolling Average Ending Year | Thriving (%) | Struggling (%) | Suffering (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 52 | 46 | 2 |
| 2011 | 54 | 45 | 2 |
| 2012 | 56 | 43 | 1 |
| 2013 | 50 | 48 | 2 |
| 2014 | 47 | 51 | 2 |
| 2015 | 45 | 52 | 3 |
| 2016 | 47 | 50 | 4 |
| 2017 | 50 | 47 | 3 |
| 2018 | 51 | 46 | 3 |
| 2019 | 53 | 45 | 3 |
| 2020 | 49 | 48 | 3 |
| 2021 | 52 | 45 | 3 |
| 2022 | 49 | 48 | 3 |
| 2023 | 50 | 47 | 2 |
| 2024 | 50 | 47 | 3 |
| 2025 | 55 | 43 | 3 |
Years with missing data indicate that results were either not collected or suppressed due to sample sizes below 300 respondents. Categories may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Daily Stress in the United Arab Emirates
In the United Arab Emirates, 33% of employees experienced stress a lot of the previous day. This compares to the Middle East and North Africa regional average of 48% and the global average of 40%. This reflects a 2-point decrease from the prior three-year rolling average.
Data Table
| Three-Year Rolling Average Ending Year | % Yes, Experienced Stress |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 45 |
| 2011 | 43 |
| 2012 | 44 |
| 2013 | 42 |
| 2014 | 43 |
| 2015 | 45 |
| 2016 | 44 |
| 2017 | 41 |
| 2018 | 40 |
| 2019 | 40 |
| 2020 | 42 |
| 2021 | 35 |
| 2022 | 33 |
| 2023 | 33 |
| 2024 | 35 |
| 2025 | 33 |
Years with missing data indicate that results were either not collected or suppressed due to sample sizes below 300 respondents.
Daily Anger in the United Arab Emirates
In the United Arab Emirates, 26% of employees experienced anger a lot of the previous day. This compares to the Middle East and North Africa regional average of 30% and the global average of 22%. This reflects no change from the prior three-year rolling average.
Data Table
| Three-Year Rolling Average Ending Year | % Yes, Experienced Anger |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 27 |
| 2011 | 26 |
| 2012 | 22 |
| 2013 | 22 |
| 2014 | 23 |
| 2015 | 24 |
| 2016 | 23 |
| 2017 | 22 |
| 2018 | 22 |
| 2019 | 25 |
| 2020 | 26 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2022 | 21 |
| 2023 | 24 |
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2025 | 26 |
Years with missing data indicate that results were either not collected or suppressed due to sample sizes below 300 respondents.
Daily Sadness in the United Arab Emirates
In the United Arab Emirates, 25% of employees experienced sadness a lot of the previous day. This compares to the Middle East and North Africa regional average of 26% and the global average of 23%. This reflects a 1-point decrease from the prior three-year rolling average.
Data Table
| Three-Year Rolling Average Ending Year | % Yes, Experienced Sadness |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 22 |
| 2014 | 24 |
| 2015 | 26 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 22 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2020 | 26 |
| 2021 | 23 |
| 2022 | 23 |
| 2023 | 24 |
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2025 | 25 |
Years with missing data indicate that results were either not collected or suppressed due to sample sizes below 300 respondents.
Daily Loneliness in the United Arab Emirates
In the United Arab Emirates, 28% of employees experienced loneliness a lot of the previous day. This compares to the Middle East and North Africa regional average of 22% and the global average of 22%.
Job Climate in the United Arab Emirates
In the United Arab Emirates, 76% of employees say it is currently a good time to find a job in the city or area where they live. This compares to the Middle East and North Africa regional average of 36% and the global average of 52%. This reflects a 1-point increase from the prior three-year rolling average.
Data Table
| Three-Year Rolling Average Ending Year | % Yes, Good Time to Find a Job |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 40 |
| 2011 | 42 |
| 2012 | 47 |
| 2013 | 60 |
| 2014 | 65 |
| 2015 | 64 |
| 2016 | 61 |
| 2017 | 57 |
| 2018 | 52 |
| 2019 | 50 |
| 2020 | 45 |
| 2021 | 52 |
| 2022 | 59 |
| 2023 | 69 |
| 2024 | 75 |
| 2025 | 76 |
Years with missing data indicate that results were either not collected or suppressed due to sample sizes below 300 respondents.