UAE outperforms US in transport infrastructure

The UAE ranked well on a global list of transportation infrastructure achievements.

DUBAI // The UAE has outperformed the US in transport infrastructure projects, according to a new report by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The Emirates was ranked first regionally and 11th globally in terms of the availability and quality of transport infrastructure in the Global Enabling Trade Report 2012, the state news agency, Wam, reported.

"The UAE's generous and carefully planned spending on infrastructure projects has resulted in advancing its global ranking in WEF's Global Enabling Trade Report 2012," Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak, the Minister of Public Works, said in a statement. "Today, we see the fruits of this approach.

"The ministry continues to build road networks connecting the country's cities to further boost the economy.

Public spending on infrastructure by the UAE is the highest regionally.

"The availability and quality of infrastructure in the UAE contribute to the national economy and further our commitment to development in the country."

The UAE was among 17 countries whose road network was 100 per cent paved. It was ranked fourth globally in terms of the quality of air transport infrastructure, sixth in terms of the quality of seaport infrastructure, and seventh for transshipment connectivity.