The UAE stayed in 71st spot in the final Fifa rankings of 2013, an improvement of 25 places over their finish in 2012 and their best year-end rank since 2001, when they were No 60.
Ukraine were the top climbers in 2013, gaining 29 places to No 18, but they fell one step short of the World Cup when they lost to France in a Uefa play-off.
Mahdi Ali’s Emirati side are ranked No 7 in Asia, behind Iran (33, a rise of 26 places in 2013), Japan (47), South Korea (54), Australia (58), Jordan (65) and Uzbekistan (68). Spain top the year-end rankings for the sixth successive year, since starting their run of major tournament wins at the 2008 European Championship.
The 2010 World Cup winner leads Germany, Argentina and Colombia at the head of an unchanged top 10.
The United States remain the best-placed Concacaf team at No 15 while Ivory Coast lead Africa at No 17.
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