Comparative analysis of human development in India and the United Arab Emirates: insights, progress, and policy lessons

Abstract

This study presents a comparative analysis of human development in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India, two nations that have pursued distinctly different development trajectories since 1990. Using data from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this research evaluates the evolution of the Human Development Index (HDI) in both countries. The analysis employs the UNDP’s HDI framework, which integrates indicators of health (life expectancy), education (mean and expected years of schooling), and standard of living (gross national income per capita, adjusted for purchasing power parity).

The findings reveal that the UAE, leveraging its oil wealth and centralized governance, has rapidly advanced into the Very High Human Development category, ranking 17th globally with a HDI score of 0.937 in 2022. Its success is attributed to strategic economic diversification, significant investments in healthcare and education, and efficient policy implementation. In contrast, India, ranking 134th with a HDI score of 0.644, has experienced steady, albeit slower, improvements driven by post-liberalization economic reforms, expansion of social welfare programs, and grassroots delivery of healthcare and education services. However, India continues to face challenges of income inequality, regional disparities, and access to quality public services.

The paper concludes that while India can learn from the UAE’s strategic vision and policy efficiency, the UAE could draw lessons from India’s inclusive, bottom-up approaches to social development. The study offers policy recommendations aimed at enhancing human development outcomes in both countries and provides critical insights for other emerging and resource-rich economies seeking to balance growth with equity and sustainability.