Asan Tata— November 7, 2026The UAE government star rating results for 2026 are out, and one service centre has made history. On 4 November 2026, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved the results of the sixth cycle of the Global Star Rating System for Services. For the first time since the system began in 2011, a service channel has earned a seven-star rating.
The honour went to the Traffic and Licensing Services Centre in Fujairah, which operates under the Ministry of Interior. The result was announced by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) and reported across UAE media on the same day. The assessment covered 179 service channels across 27 federal government entities, making it the largest review in the system’s 15-year history.
This article explains what the star rating system is, which centres scored highest, how the full results break down, and what the ratings mean for residents who use government services every day.
Quick Answer
The UAE’s 2026 Global Star Rating System for Services has named the Traffic and Licensing Services Centre in Fujairah as the country’s top-rated government service channel, with a seven-star rating. It is the first channel to reach seven stars since the system launched in 2011. The sixth cycle assessed 179 channels across 27 federal entities: one channel earned seven stars, eight earned six stars, 67 earned five stars, 70 earned four stars, and 33 earned three stars. Service centres improved by 5 per cent, digital channels by 4 per cent, and contact centres by 13 per cent compared with the previous cycle.
What Happened on 4 November 2026
Sheikh Mohammed approved the results of the sixth cycle of the Global Star Rating System for Services on 4 November 2026. The announcement was shared through the UAE Government Media Office and carried by WAM, the country’s official news agency.
In his statement, Sheikh Mohammed said the system measures the quality and progress of government services through the eyes of the people who use them. He said the cycle covered 179 service channels across 27 government entities, led by the Traffic and Licensing Services Centre in Fujairah with a seven-star rating.
He also repeated a long-standing vision for UAE government services. “We want a government that anticipates people’s needs and exceeds their expectations, and makes their lives easier and better,” he said. That sentence sums up what the star system is designed to push for: services that are simple, fast, and built around the user, not the paperwork.
The results give a public snapshot of which federal service channels are performing best right now, from in-person centres to websites, apps, and phone lines.
The Top-Rated Centres in 2026
The headline result is the Fujairah Traffic and Licensing Services Centre. It is part of the Ministry of Interior, the federal authority behind traffic and licensing services across the UAE. Its seven-star rating is the highest classification in the system, and no channel had reached it before.
Two channels earned six stars, and both belong to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). They are the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Fujairah and the Customer Happiness Centre in Ras Al Khaimah. For residents, these are the offices that handle identity and residency-related services, including Emirates ID and visa matters.
The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure’s Contact Centre earned five stars, placing it among the most advanced contact centres in the review. Contact centres matter because many residents now solve problems by phone or online chat before visiting a centre in person.
Together, these results show a pattern. The highest scores went to channels that deal directly with the public every day: traffic and licensing, identity and residency, and a ministry contact centre. These are the services where long queues, unclear steps, or slow replies are felt most quickly by residents.
Full Results: How the 179 Channels Scored
The sixth cycle was the biggest review yet. It assessed 179 service channels across 27 federal government entities. The channels fell into three groups: 107 service centres, 49 digital channels, and 23 call centres.
The star ratings break down as follows:
| Star rating | Number of channels | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| 7 stars | 1 | The top rating, achieved for the first time in 2026 |
| 6 stars | 8 | Among the most advanced channels in the country |
| 5 stars | 67 | Strong performance across service delivery |
| 4 stars | 70 | Solid performance with room to improve |
| 3 stars | 33 | The lowest rating awarded in this cycle |
The numbers add up to 179, which matches the total number of channels assessed. Most channels sit in the middle of the scale. A total of 137 channels earned four or five stars, while only nine reached six or seven stars. That spread is normal for a rating system: the top tier is meant to be hard to reach.
The results also show progress across all three channel types. Service centres improved by 5 per cent, digital channels by 4 per cent, and contact centres by 13 per cent. The jump in contact centre performance is the largest of the three, which suggests phone and online support has improved the most since the last review.
How the UAE Government Star Rating System Works
The UAE Government launched the Global Star Rating System for Services in 2011, under the directives of Sheikh Mohammed. The goal was to transform how government services are delivered and raise their efficiency and quality to the highest global standards.
The system rates government service channels on a scale of 2 to 7 stars. The criteria measure service quality, delivery efficiency, and customer experience. In simple terms, assessors look at how well a service works, how smoothly it runs, and how good it feels for the person using it.
A comprehensive update in 2019 refreshed the evaluation criteria to keep pace with technological change. The update placed a sharper focus on customer experience, digital services, and proactive delivery. Proactive delivery means a service that reaches out to the user before a problem appears, rather than waiting for the user to chase it.
The system covers three kinds of channels. Service centres are the physical offices where residents visit in person. Digital channels are the websites, apps, and online portals used to apply, pay, or check a status. Call centres, also called contact centres, are the phone and support lines that answer questions and solve problems.
It is important to know what the ratings cover. The 2026 cycle assessed federal government entities. That means the results describe federal services, such as those run by ministries and federal authorities. Services run by individual emirates follow their own local systems and are not part of this particular ranking.
Why the Seven-Star First Matters
Fifteen years passed between the launch of the system in 2011 and the first seven-star rating in 2026. That long wait is part of the story. A seven-star rating is not given for a single good year or a new building. It reflects a channel that performs at the highest level across the full set of criteria, from service quality to the experience of the people who walk through its doors.
For the Fujairah centre, the rating also puts a smaller emirate at the top of a federal ranking. The result is a reminder that service quality is judged on performance, not size or location.
The result also sets a benchmark for other centres. Once one channel has shown that seven stars are possible, other centres have a concrete example to learn from, and residents benefit when standards rise across the board.
What the Results Mean for Residents
For most residents, the star ratings are useful in a practical way. If you need to visit a service centre, use a government app, or call a helpline, the ratings give a rough guide to what you can expect. A highly rated channel is more likely to offer clear steps, shorter waits, and staff who can solve your problem in one visit.
The results also show where government services are heading. The 13 per cent improvement in contact centres suggests that phone and online support is getting better, which matters for residents who prefer to solve things without travelling. The 4 per cent improvement in digital channels points the same way: more services are moving online, and the quality of those online journeys is rising.
That said, a star rating is a guide, not a guarantee. Your own experience can still depend on the time of day, the complexity of your case, and whether your documents are complete. The smart approach is to use the rating as one signal, and to prepare well before any visit or application.
Practical tips for using government services
First, check the official channel before you visit: most federal services list their steps, documents, and fees online, and using the digital channel first can save a trip. Second, keep your documents ready, including your Emirates ID and passport. Third, call ahead when your case is unusual, so you arrive with the right paperwork. Finally, use the official feedback channel for that entity if something goes wrong.
How This Cycle Compares With the Past
The sixth cycle is the largest in the system’s history, with 179 channels across 27 entities.
The 2019 criteria update also changed what “good” means. Before the update, a service could score well mainly by being efficient. After the update, customer experience and proactive delivery carry more weight. A service that waits for complaints scores lower than one that prevents problems in the first place.
The improvement figures in this cycle tell a positive story overall. Every channel type improved: service centres by 5 per cent, digital channels by 4 per cent, and contact centres by 13 per cent. The pattern suggests that investment in staff training, digital tools, and support lines is paying off, even if only a small number of channels have reached the very top of the scale so far.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which government service centre earned seven stars in 2026?
The Traffic and Licensing Services Centre in Fujairah, which operates under the Ministry of Interior, earned a seven-star rating. It is the first channel to reach seven stars since the system launched in 2011.
How many service channels were assessed in the 2026 cycle?
The sixth cycle assessed 179 service channels across 27 federal government entities. The channels included 107 service centres, 49 digital channels, and 23 call centres.
Which channels earned six stars?
Two ICP channels earned six stars: the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Fujairah and the Customer Happiness Centre in Ras Al Khaimah. In total, eight channels across the review earned six stars.
What does the star rating measure?
The system rates channels on a scale of 2 to 7 stars, using criteria that measure service quality, delivery efficiency, and customer experience. A 2019 update added a sharper focus on digital services and proactive delivery.
Do the ratings cover Dubai and Abu Dhabi local services?
No. The 2026 cycle assessed federal government entities. Services run by individual emirates follow their own local systems and are not part of this ranking.
Where can I check the official results?
The results were announced by WAM, the Emirates News Agency, on 4 November 2026. Residents can also follow updates from the UAE Government Media Office and the official portals of the entities named in the results.
Disclaimer: This article summarises the official results of the UAE Government’s 2026 Global Star Rating System for Services as announced on 4 November 2026. Star ratings describe the assessed service channels at the time of the review and may change in later cycles. For the latest status of any specific service, always check the official website or contact centre of the relevant government entity before visiting or applying.
Sources: WAM announcement, 4 November 2026, via Aletihad; Khaleej Times; Gulf News; The National.
Last Updated: 7 November 2026
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