Doha, Sept. 6 -- Qatar has led the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the 2026 Legatum Prosperity Index for living standards, ranking fourth worldwide and topping the Middle East and North Africa region in the category.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) followed in 11th place globally, while Kuwait ranked 22nd, Saudi Arabia 26th, Bahrain 32nd and Oman 46th, putting all six Gulf states among the world's top 50.

Qatar also placed eighth worldwide in the Development Index, which combines measures related to living standards, health and education. The UAE ranked 13th in development, 14th in education and 21st in health.

A broader measure of prosperity

The Legatum Prosperity Index goes beyond wealth and gross domestic product per capita to ass...