UAE passport gains most in 10 years, emerges Covid pandemic winner

Throughout the turmoil of the past two years, one thing has remained constant: the growing strength of the UAE passport. The passport has gained the most since 2012, according to the Henley Passport Index.

The document now sits at the 15th spot with a visa-free or visa-on-arrival score of 176, up from the 64th place in 2012, when it had a score of just 106.

The UAE has also become the focus of intense interest among affluent investors and is expected to see the highest net influx of HNWIs globally in 2022, with a forecast net increase of 4,000, a dramatic increase of 208 per cent versus 2019’s net inflow of 1,300 and one of its largest on record, Henley and Partners said in their Q3 global mobility report. Here are the passports that have climbed the most since 2012:

UAE: The country ranks 15th on the passport index, and has a score of 176. It has gained 49 places since 2012, when it was ranked 64.

Colombia: The country ranks 41 on the passport index, and has a score of 132. The document has gained 33 places since 2012, when it had a rank of 74.

Timor-Leste: The country ranks 60th on the index with a score of 94. In 2012, the passport was placed 89th, and has risen 29 spots since then.

Ukraine: The country has a passport ranking of 35, and a visa-free score of 144. The passport has gained 25 places since 2012, when it was ranked 60th.

China: With a score of 80, the Chinese passport is ranked 69th on the list, having gained 23 spots since 2012, when it was placed 92nd.

Peru: With a rank of 38, the passport has gained 22 spots since 2012, when it was placed 60th. The country has a visa-free score of 136.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines: The passport of the Caribbean country has a visa-free score of 152. It has gained 22 places since 2012, when it was ranked 51st, and now holds the 29th spot on the index.

Georgia: The country’s passport ranks 52nd, up 21 places from 2012, when it stood 73rd. The passport has a visa-free score of 116.