Once again, Saudi Arabia has reinforced its standing among the world’s most powerful nations, securing 7th place globally – and first in the Arab and Muslim worlds – in the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School 2026 Best Countries Index.
The Big Picture: The Wharton School 2026 Best Countries Index ranks 85 countries according to global power perception. Developed by WPP’s BAV Group and Wharton, it evaluates 73 attributes across ten categories including Power, Entrepreneurship, Openness for Business, Quality of Life, Adventure and Cultural Influence, based on a global survey of 15,131 adults across 33 countries between late 2025 and early 2026.
By The Numbers: Saudi Arabia has ranked 7th globally and the first in the Arab and Muslim worlds in terms of Power, scoring 61.0. With this ranking, the Kingdom outpaced G7 members such as France and Japan, while the US and China secured the first and second spots, scoring 100.0 and 93.6, respectively.
The power score measures a country’s combined leadership, economic weight, political sway, and military power. So, how did Saudi Arabia become the Arab world’s ultimate superpower?
Unparalleled Economic Weight
Saudi Arabia has shown massive resilience to regional economic shocks, particularly in the aftermath of the US-Iran conflict and the disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strategy: The Kingdom has actively hedged against the disruptions of shipping by enhancing maritime connectivity and supporting supply chain resilience through the Red Sea, providing a lifeline for global markets.
These efforts include:
- Launching the “Logistics Corridors Initiative” to reroute shipping from ports in the Arabian Gulf to the Kingdom’s Red Sea ports.
- The introduction of new shipping services to the Jeddah Islamic Port.
- Launching a new multimodal land bridge connecting Europe, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries through the Port of NEOM.
- Utilizing the East-West Pipeline with its full operational capacity of 7 million barrels per day in the first quarter of 2026, driving a 25% year-on-year increase in Aramco’s net income.
The Outlook:
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) upgraded Saudi Arabia’s 2027 economic growth forecast to 5%.
- The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) projected a 3% expansion of Saudi economy in 2027.
- Fitch Ratings affirmed Saudi Arabia’s ‘A+’ sovereign credit rating with a stable outlook.
Geopolitical Clout
The Kingdom has cemented its role as a key regional stabilizer and a staunch supporter of Arab sovereignty and security. In 2025 and 2026, Riyadh emerged as the diplomatic capital of the Middle East, spearheading Arab and Muslim consensus on the most pressing regional issues.
Palestine:
Saudi Arabia has been a strong advocate for Palestinian statehood, launching an extensive diplomatic push that led to a wave of international recognitions of the State of Palestine. It also co-hosted the Two-State Solution Conference alongside France, pushing for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Syria:
The Kingdom has played a pivotal role in ending Syria‘s diplomatic isolation after the collapse of the Assad regime in late 2024. Riyadh has also championed the economic recovery of Damascus, pouring investments into the country and pressing for the lifting of international economic sanctions. These efforts culminated in a historical US announcement in July 2026 to initiating the process to remove Syria from the State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) list.
Regional Mediation:
From Sudan to Lebanon, Libya, Yemen and Iran, Saudi Arabia has been an active mediator in broader regional conflicts, calling for diplomatic solutions to resolve disputes.
Defensive Might
Another pillar of the Kingdom’s strength is its growing military power. Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has significantly modernized its military capabilities, moving from being a buyer to a self-reliant developer of advanced defense technologies. The ultimate target is localizing over 50% of the Kingdom’s military spending by 2030.
This localization push is led by Saudi Military Industries (SAMI), which now manufactures drone systems, armored vehicles, and advanced military electronics locally.
By The Numbers:
The latest 2026 Global Firepower (GFP) index highlights Saudi Arabia’s dominant conventional military standing:
- Saudi Arabia ranks 25th globally out of 145 countries in overall global military strength.
- The Kingdom possesses the 2nd largest aerial refueling tanker fleet in the world.
- The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) ranks 7th globally in fighter and interceptor fleet strength.
A Futuristic Vision
Beyond economic and military might, Saudi Arabia boasts an undeniable soft power driven by its revolutionary vision for the future.
Aimed at building a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation, the Kingdom has embarked on several giga-projects under Vision 2030, such as NEOM, the Red Sea Project, and Qiddiya.
Saudi Arabia has also established its standing as a premier host for world-class events, including the upcoming Riyadh Expo 2030 and FIFA World Cup 2034, consolidating the Kingdom’s position as a key hub of global tourism, entertainment, sports, and future technology.
The Bottom Line: The 7th spot globally and the first in the Arab and Muslim worlds in the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School 2026 Best Countries Index is just the starting point for Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a global superpower.
