Bloomberg’s Covid-19 Resilience Rankings for September ranked the UAE as the world’s sixth-best place to live during the pandemic. The country’s rank improved by nine slots from the 15th spot it held in the August rankings.

The UAE led the world on vaccinations. Bloomberg data shows that 92.3 per cent of its population was covered by Covid-19 vaccines. The UAE has pursued a free and extensive vaccination campaign since late 2020. It leads the world on the number of vaccine doses administered per 100 people in the population.

The country came in for high praise on the global stage for its effective handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. The United Nations recently named Dubai the world’s most resilient city. “Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and its diverse impact, Dubai government combated and alleviated the pandemic’s effects and rapidly regain momentum,” said a UN report.

“The United Arab Emirates and Mexico rose nine and seven places respectively, as domestic restrictions became less stringent amid falling cases and deaths,” said the report. The country has safely reopened its borders. On October 1, it opened Expo 2020 Dubai, the world’s largest in-person event this year.

“Delta has redefined how we live with the virus, with places that stayed resilient amid the variant’s onslaught providing a new model for how the world emerges from the pandemic,” said the report.

The UAE is one of the best-prepared countries to deal with the pandemic. “The UAE’s fight against the pandemic has particularly been a story of strength, fortitude and endurance. We have been tested in our ability to deal with this unforeseen situation, but we have emerged out of it tougher,” His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said in June this year.

RESILIENT EUROPE

In September, European nations dominate the top rungs of Bloomberg’s Covid Resilience Ranking for a third month. With an overall score of 79.4, Ireland topped the resilience charts. It was followed by Spain (78.2), the Netherlands (76.4), Finland (76.1) and Denmark (75.3) in the Top 5.

At No. 6, the UAE scored 74.7 overall on the Resilience index. The UAE had the world’s seventh least disruptive lockdown severity according to Bloomberg data. France (73.9), Switzerland and Canada (both 73.8) and Norway (73.6) rounded out the Top 10. “Norway’s marked fall from No. 1 in August to No. 10 this month was due to its travel restrictions, which are stricter than European peers,” said the report.

At No. 17, GCC peer Saudi Arabia (overall score: 71) trailed the UK (71.1). The Kingdom rose by two slots and ranks No. 17 among the world’s 53 biggest economies the Index assessed.

Bloomberg’s Covid Resilience Ranking is a monthly snapshot. It tracks which countries are handling the virus most effectively with the least social and economic upheaval. It is compiled using 12 data indicators. They cover virus containment, quality of healthcare, vaccination coverage, overall mortality and progress toward restarting travel and easing border curbs. The ranking captures which of the world’s biggest 53 economies are responding best – and worst – to the same once-in-a-generation threat.

FRAGILE ASIA

Southeast Asian economies continue to populate the ranking’s bottom rungs in September. Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines bring up the bottom. “While the region’s outbreak may have peaked, their export-reliant economies are still struggling from the hit,” said the report.

“Once the gold standard for virus containment, the Asia-Pacific is faltering in the era of vaccination. Not only are their strict measures less effective in the face of delta, former top rankers in the region are also grappling with how to reopen after such a long period of isolationist border curbs,” said the report.

The US, the world’s largest economy, slipped three spots to No. 28. “Delta left the US reeling,” said the report. “Unfettered normalisation, regardless of vaccination status, drove a surge in cases and deaths. Inoculation has hit a wall, with places that started shots later than the US now overtaking it,” it said.

At No. 53, the Philippines (40.2) brings up the rear of the Index. “The Philippines’ drop to No. 53 reflects the challenges it’s facing from the onslaught of the delta variant, which has hit Southeast Asia particularly hard amid difficulties containing the more contagious strain and slow vaccination rollouts,” said the report.