Average IQ in the United Arab Emirates

The average IQ in the United Arab Emirates is estimated at 84, based on the national IQ datasets of Lynn & Vanhanen (2012) and Rindermann (2018). It is a rough, contested estimate, not a measurement.

The average IQ in the United Arab Emirates is about 84. What's yours?

Take the IQ test

25 questions · about 12 minutes

What would you score? Try question 1.

A
B
C
D
E

Which option completes the grid? One tap, no sign-up.

−16
Points below the UK-normed 100
#40
Education ranking
7/10
Happiness index

How does the United Arab Emirates compare with other countries?

In the same dataset, the United Arab Emirates' estimate of 84 compares with Israel (95) and India (82), and with the United Kingdom (100) and the United States (98). Gaps between countries mostly track schooling, health and familiarity with tests, and they say nothing about any individual.

The United Arab Emirates next to its regional peers, the UK and the US. Same datasets, same scale.
CountryAvg IQHappiness
United Arab Emirates847/10
Israel957/10
India825/10
United Kingdom1007/10
United States987/10

Differences of a few points sit inside the uncertainty of these estimates. See all country estimates or check where one person's score falls on the IQ bell curve.

What is the average IQ in the United Arab Emirates?

The average IQ in the United Arab Emirates is estimated at 84, from the national IQ compilations of Lynn & Vanhanen (2012) and Rindermann (2018). That is 16 points below the reference average of 100, anchored to UK test norms. It describes average test results, not any individual.

The estimated average IQ of 84 places United Arab Emirates below the global mean of 100. Remember: these are population averages with significant variance. Individual intelligence varies widely within any country, and many factors beyond innate ability affect test performance.

Wondering what a score of 84 means for one person? The IQ 84 page covers its percentile and what it does and does not tell you.

Where the number comes from, and its limits

LifeScore shows a rounded estimate drawn from the national IQ compilations of Lynn & Vanhanen (2012) and Rindermann (2018). Both gather published test results for each country and convert them to a common scale. Researchers disagree about how far those figures can be trusted, for these reasons:

  1. Different tests

    National figures combine different instruments, such as Raven's matrices, Wechsler scales and school assessments like PISA, taken in different years and converted to one scale. The 84 for the United Arab Emirates inherits every step of that conversion.

  2. Sampling

    Some national estimates rest on small or unrepresentative samples, such as one city, school or age group. Reviews such as Wicherts, Dolan and van der Maas (2010) found that sample choices can move a country figure by many points.

  3. Education and health

    Scores rise with years of schooling, nutrition, health care and familiarity with timed tests, so a national average partly measures those conditions rather than a fixed trait.

  4. The Flynn effect

    Raw scores on many tests rose by roughly 3 points a decade during the 20th century (Flynn, 1987), and some countries have since seen plateaus or declines. The year a sample was tested changes the number.

  5. Not about individuals or ethnicity

    The spread of scores inside the United Arab Emirates, as in any country, is far wider than the gap between countries. A national estimate says nothing about any person, and it is not evidence about ethnicity or genetics.

Culture and personality in the United Arab Emirates

Rapidly modernizing culture with global ambitions. Strengths include infrastructure investment and safety; risks include dependence on expat labor and oil transition.

The dominant personality pattern in United Arab Emirates is High Openness. This shapes daily life: expectations at work, social norms, and what behaviors get rewarded or punished. Understanding this baseline helps explain cultural friction when different personality styles interact.

The Builder archetype captures United Arab Emirates's cultural identity. This archetype rewards certain strengths: Ambition and Hospitality. The shadow side includes the typical failure modes of this pattern, overextension of strengths into weaknesses.

Work and social life

Professional environments in United Arab Emirates tend to reward High Openness behavior patterns. Career advancement often depends on aligning with cultural expectations around work style, communication, and relationship-building.

Social structure in United Arab Emirates reflects The Builder pattern. Relationships tend to be more individualistic with emphasis on personal autonomy. This affects everything from family dynamics to friendship patterns.

Cultural values

  1. Ambition

    Achievement drive is normalized and expected in United Arab Emirates. This creates economic dynamism and global competitiveness but can fuel burnout and work-life imbalance. Success is often defined in terms of visible achievement.

  2. Hospitality

    Hospitality is a core cultural value in United Arab Emirates that shapes expectations and behavior across social, professional, and personal contexts.

  3. Futurism

    Futurism is a core cultural value in United Arab Emirates that shapes expectations and behavior across social, professional, and personal contexts.

Education and wellbeing

United Arab Emirates's education ranking (#40) indicates room for improvement in educational systems. This ranking reflects current performance rather than inherent potential, many countries have dramatically improved their educational outcomes through targeted reforms.

United Arab Emirates ranks high on happiness indices (7/10), suggesting effective social systems, quality of life infrastructure, and cultural factors that support wellbeing. High happiness scores typically correlate with trust, social support, and perceived freedom.

United Arab Emirates: frequently asked questions

What is the national personality of United Arab Emirates?

United Arab Emirates tends toward High Openness as a dominant cultural pattern. Key traits include Ambition, Hospitality, and Futurism. This shapes social norms and expectations, though individual variation remains significant within the population.

Is United Arab Emirates a good place to live?

It depends on personal fit. United Arab Emirates ranks #40 in education and scores 7/10 on happiness. The Builder culture rewards Ambition and Hospitality. If those align with your values and personality, you'll likely thrive. Cultural fit matters as much as objective metrics.

Is the IQ data for United Arab Emirates reliable?

National IQ estimates have significant limitations. The 84 figure for United Arab Emirates is based on available research but affected by sampling issues, test cultural bias, and varying educational access. It's best understood as a rough indicator of average test performance, not a measure of inherent cognitive capacity.

What is the work culture like in United Arab Emirates?

Work culture in United Arab Emirates reflects The Builder pattern. Professional environments tend to reward High Openness behavior and emphasize values like Ambition. Understanding these implicit expectations is important for career success.

How does United Arab Emirates rank in education?

United Arab Emirates ranks #40 globally in education according to international assessments. This ranking reflects current performance and ongoing development. Education quality contributes to the country's cognitive and economic profile.

What is the happiness level in United Arab Emirates?

United Arab Emirates scores 7/10 on the happiness index. This high score suggests effective social systems and quality of life. Happiness scores correlate with social trust, freedom, and support.

What is United Arab Emirates's cultural archetype?

United Arab Emirates is characterized as a Builder culture. This archetype shapes how the society approaches problems, structures relationships, and defines success. Key strengths include Ambition and Hospitality, while shadow sides include typical failure modes of this pattern.

What's your IQ?

Take the 25-question visual reasoning test and put your own number next to the United Arab Emirates' 84.

Take the IQ test

25 questions · about 12 minutes

Sources

  1. Lynn, R., & Vanhanen, T. (2012). Intelligence: A Unifying Construct for the Social Sciences. Ulster Institute for Social Research.
  2. Rindermann, H. (2018). Cognitive Capitalism: Human Capital and the Wellbeing of Nations. Cambridge University Press.
  3. Wicherts, J. M., Dolan, C. V., & van der Maas, H. L. J. (2010). A systematic literature review of the average IQ of sub-Saharan Africans. Intelligence.
  4. Flynn, J. R. (1987). Massive IQ gains in 14 nations: What IQ tests really measure. Psychological Bulletin.
  5. OECD (2023). PISA 2022 Results. OECD Publishing.
  6. World Happiness Report (2023).

Last reviewed September 2026 by the LifeScore Editorial Team.