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UAE Emerges As One Of The Most Trusting Nations In 2025

The UAE continues to be one of the most trusted countries in the world, according to the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer. While many nations struggle with declining trust due to misinformation and economic instability, the UAE remains a beacon of confidence, achieving high trust levels in both government and business institutions.

Global Trust Rankings

The report highlights a stark divide in trust levels across the world. Five of the ten largest global economies rank among the least trusting nations, with Japan at 37%, Germany at 41%, the UK at 43%, the U.S. at 47%, and France at 48%. Meanwhile, countries like China (77%), Indonesia (76%), India (75%), and the UAE (72%) continue to lead the Trust Index.

The UAE was first included in the Edelman Trust Barometer in 2010 and has consistently ranked among the top nations. Citizens view the country’s leadership and institutions as both competent and ethical, reinforcing its stability.

UAE Government: A Global Trust Leader

With 82% trust among respondents, the UAE government is the most trusted institution in the country and one of the highest-ranked globally. This far exceeds the global average of 52%.

Trust in business is also strong, with 76% of UAE respondents believing that businesses act responsibly, compared to the global average of 62%. Additionally, societal trust remains high, with teachers (85%) and citizens (79%) viewed as highly trustworthy.

Trust And Optimism In The UAE

The report links high trust levels to optimism about the future. In the UAE, 60% of respondents believe the next generation will be better off, significantly higher than the global average of 36%.

“The UAE has demonstrated that when institutions act with integrity and competence, trust flourishes. Where trust thrives, optimism overcomes uncertainty, paving the way for a brighter future,” said Omar Qirem, CEO of Edelman Middle East.

Global Trust Crisis And UAE’s Stability

While trust remains strong in the UAE, the global landscape presents a different picture. Widespread concerns over misinformation, inequality, and economic instability have led to declining trust worldwide. According to the report, 63% of individuals find it increasingly difficult to distinguish between credible sources and deceptive information. Additionally, two-thirds believe the wealthy do not contribute their fair share in taxes.

Despite these global challenges, the UAE stands out as a nation where trust in institutions and optimism for the future remain resilient, reinforcing its position as a leader in global stability and confidence.

Mobile Apps Surpass Games Globally In 2025 As AI Fuels Unprecedented Growth

In a landmark shift for the mobile industry, 2025 marked the first year that global consumer spending on non-game mobile apps exceeded that of mobile games. Market intelligence firm Sensor Tower reported in their annual State of Mobile report that worldwide spending on apps reached approximately $85 billion, a 21% increase year-over-year and nearly 2.8 times higher than five years ago.

Generative AI Drives Revenue And User Engagement

The rapid ascendance of generative AI has been a major catalyst in this growth. Revenue from in-app purchases in the generative AI category more than tripled in 2025 to exceed $5 billion, while downloads doubled to 3.8 billion. Leading the charge were AI assistants, with top performers including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and DeepSeek. Notably, ChatGPT generated $3.4 billion in global in-app purchase revenue, underscoring its critical role in reshaping consumer behavior.

Surge In Engagement And Session Metrics

Consumer engagement reached new heights, with users spending 48 billion hours in generative AI apps—3.6 times more than in 2024 and 10 times the volume of 2023. Session volume surpassed one trillion, indicating that existing users were deepening their interaction with these apps at a rate that outpaced new downloads. This intense engagement is reflective of how seamlessly AI is integrating into everyday mobile activities.

Big Tech Intensifies The AI Battle

Big technology players, including Google, Microsoft, and X, have significantly ramped up their investments in AI assistants to compete with ChatGPT. Their concerted efforts have led to rapid advancements in coding assistance, content generation, and multimedia capabilities. Recent upgrades such as ChatGPT’s GPT-4o image generation model and Google’s Nano Banana exemplify the transformative improvements that are driving consumer adoption.

Consolidation And Expansion In The AI Space

Among the top AI publishers, OpenAI and DeepSeek commanded nearly 50% of global downloads—a substantial increase from 21% in 2024. Concurrently, big tech publishers grew their market share from 14% to nearly 30%, effectively crowding out early ChatGPT alternatives. In addition to AI assistants, other innovative apps, including AI music generation by Suno, ByteDance’s text-to-video solution Jimeng AI, and companion apps such as Character.ai and PolyBuzz, contributed to the expanding AI ecosystem.

Mobile: The Key Connector To Generative AI Services

Sensor Tower’s report underscores the critical role of mobile platforms in mobilizing access to generative AI. In the United States alone, the total audience for AI assistants topped 200 million by year-end, with more than half (110 million) relying exclusively on mobile devices. This stark contrast to the 13 million mobile-only users in 2024 highlights a significant shift in consumer preferences and the increasing indispensability of mobile applications as conduits for innovative AI technologies.

Diverse Revenue Streams Beyond AI

While AI was the dominant revenue driver, the report also notes robust contributions from social media, video streaming, and productivity apps. In particular, social media apps commanded an average of 90 minutes of daily user engagement, culminating in nearly 2.5 trillion hours spent globally—a 5% year-over-year increase. This diversity in revenue streams underscores the resilience and dynamism inherent in the mobile app ecosystem.

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