UAE ranks among world’s top 10 most powerful passports

The UAE has earned a spot in the top 10 of the world’s most powerful passports, securing 8th place in the latest Henley Passport Index.

With visa-free access to 184 countries and territories, the UAE passport has made a remarkable leap, rising from 32nd position in 2015. Over the past decade, it has added 72 destinations to its list, making it the biggest gainer.

This climb marks a significant achievement for the UAE, which has moved from 62nd to 8th place since the index’s inception in 2006, reflecting the country's strategic efforts to enhance its passport power.

Singapore continues to hold the top spot, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 193 out of 227 countries. South Korea and Japan follow closely in second place, with access to 190 countries each.

Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Ireland, Finland, and Denmark share the third spot, with 187 destinations each.

The rest of the index’s Top 10 is largely dominated by European countries, except for Australia (6th place with 189 destinations), Canada (7th place with 188 destinations), and the US (9th place with 186 destinations).

The UAE passport emerged as the biggest gainer, adding 72 destinations to its list over the past decade. Now in 8th place with access to 184 countries, the UAE is the only Arab nation in the top 10. It was in 32nd position in 2015. The UAE is the first and only Arab country to reach the top ranks of the index.

Another big gainer was China, which climbed from 94th in 2015 to 59th, now with access to 83 destinations. Over the past year alone, China granted visa-free access to 29 additional countries and now sits in 80th position, granting visa-free entry to a total of 58 nations as the new year begins.

The Henley Index also highlights the biggest losers in terms of passport strength. Venezuela saw the largest drop, falling 42 positions to 44th place, while the US, once in second place, dropped to 9th with access to 183 destinations.

India ranks 80th, sharing the spot with Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Tajikistan. Neighboring Myanmar is in 88th place with access to 45 destinations, while Sri Lanka shares 91st with Iran and Sudan. Bangladesh ranks 93rd with Libya and the Palestinian Territories, while Nepal holds the 94th spot and Pakistan comes in 96th, tied with Yemen.

At the bottom, Afghanistan ranks 99th, suffering the largest mobility gap in the index’s history by losing access to two additional destinations. The passport offers visa-free access to just 25 countries. Iraq and Syria follow closely, ranked 97th and 98th, with access to 30 and 27 countries, respectively.

The latest Henley Passport Index shows significant declines for US and UK passports, with the US dropping from 2nd to 9th and the UK from 1st to 5th. Meanwhile, China rose 34 places to 60th, increasing its visa-free access by 40 destinations. Experts link the US decline to political isolationism, while China’s openness boosts its global influence.

The report also notes that 21% of second citizenship applications come from US citizens, driven by political instability and the need for "political risk insurance."

The research highlights rising visa rejections for African applicants and forecasts the expansion of digital border controls, with the UK’s ETA and the EU’s ETIAS launching in 2025.