Costa Rica vs UAE
A data-driven side-by-side: investment score, economy, business climate, political stability, and tax, to help you decide where to invest, incorporate, or relocate.
Overall: UAE ranks higher
UAE scores 78/100 on our composite investment index, ahead of Costa Rica at 60/100. This blends economic strength, political stability, business climate, financial maturity, and growth outlook. Read the breakdown below to see where each country actually leads.
Category breakdown
58
Economic strength
UAE leads
80
68
Political stability
UAE leads
82
62
Business climate
UAE leads
88
52
Financial maturity
UAE leads
78
55
Growth outlook
UAE leads
72
Macro snapshot
71
GDP (USD bn)
-436.5 bn
507
3.8%
GDP growth (%)
+0.1 pp
3.7%
$13,200
GDP per capita (USD)
-36800.0
$50,000
1.8%
Inflation (%)
-0.3 pp
2.1%
4.5%
FDI (% of GDP)
-1.3 pp
5.8%
62%
Public debt (% of GDP)
+32.0 pp
30%
5.2
Population (M)
-4.8M
10
Costa Rica: strong sectors
- Technology7.0% of GDP72
- Tourism8.5% of GDP68
- Medical Devices6.0% of GDP65
- Agriculture5.5% of GDP55
UAE: strong sectors
- Energy30.0% of GDP88
- Financial Services10.0% of GDP85
- Tourism12.0% of GDP82
- Real Estate8.0% of GDP75
Frequently asked
Which is better for investment: Costa Rica or UAE?
Our composite investment index gives Costa Rica a score of 60/100 and UAE a score of 78/100. UAE ranks higher overall, but the right answer depends on your sector and risk tolerance. See the category breakdown above.
Is Costa Rica a safer market than UAE?
Risk classification puts Costa Rica as moderate (Growing economy with manageable risks - suitable for diversified portfolios) and UAE as safe (Strong fundamentals, stable governance, favorable investment climate).
Which has higher GDP growth: Costa Rica or UAE?
Costa Rica is currently growing at 3.8% per year, vs 3.7% for UAE. Costa Rica has the faster headline growth rate today.