The UAE has grabbed top honours in the World Economic Forum's new Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index for countries in the Middle East and Africa. The index is based on criteria such as infrastructure, technology, information and communication, price competitiveness, air and ground transport, and safety. Worldwide, the UAE has moved up seven places in terms of its competitiveness in international tourism and now ranks 33rd among 133 countries surveyed, up from 40th last year.