UAE Improving According to Transparency-Corruption 2010 Survey

UAE Ranking
The United Arab Emirates showed a slight improvement in the 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index being ranked this year 28th equal out of 178 countries in contrast to its ranking of 30th place in 2009.

The UAE again ranked second in Middle Eastern and North African countries after Qatar (19th) and one place ahead of Israel.

Survey Summary
The summary report made these overall statements about the 2010 survey:

Obstacle to Progress
With governments committing huge sums to tackle the world’s most pressing problems, from the instability of financial markets to climate change and poverty, corruption remains an obstacle to achieving much needed progress.

The 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index shows that nearly three quarters of the 178 countries in the index score below five, on a scale from 10 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt). These results indicate a serious corruption problem.

To address these challenges, governments need to integrate anti-corruption measures in all spheres, from their responses to the financial crisis and climate change to commitments by the international community to eradicate poverty. Transparency International advocates stricter implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption, the only global initiative that provides a framework for putting an end to corruption.

Top and Bottom
Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore are tied at the top of the list with a score of 9.3, followed closely by Finland and Sweden at 9.2. At the bottom is Somalia with a score of 1.1, slightly trailing Myanmar and Afghanistan at 1.4 and Iraq at 1.5.

Movers
Notable among decliners over the past year are some of the countries most affected by a financial crisis precipitated by transparency and integrity deficits. Among those improving in the past year, the general absence of OECD states underlines the fact that all nations need to bolster their good governance mechanisms.

Turning the Tide
The message is clear: across the globe, transparency and accountability are critical to restoring trust and turning back the tide of corruption. Without them, global policy solutions to many global crises are at risk.

Links
The 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index
The 2009 Corruption-Perceptions Index

Geoff Pound

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