UAE passport among world's 10 most powerful

For the first time, the UAE has entered the top 10 most powerful passports, having added an impressive 152 destinations since the index’s inception in 2006. With a current visa-free score of 185, the UAE has climbed a remarkable 53 places in the ranking, from 62nd to 9th position.

Strategic efforts behind ascent

Henley & Partners CEO Dr. Juerg Steffen attributes this meteoric ascent to “deliberate and concerted efforts by the Emirati government to position the UAE as a global hub for business, tourism, and investment.”

“Our research has consistently shown a strong correlation between a country’s visa-free score and its economic prosperity. Nations with higher visa-free scores tend to enjoy greater GDP per capita, increased foreign direct investment, and more robust international trade relationships.”

Understanding the Henley Passport Index

The Henley Passport Index, a global database, assesses 199 passports annually and publishes a list of the top passports every month. This index is a valuable tool for evaluating the power of passports.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) provides the data that determines the ranking of passports on the Henley Passport Index. IATA’s extensive database of travel information and international agreements forms the backbone of this evaluation.

World's top 10 passports

1 Singapore: Reclaiming its title as the world’s most powerful passport, Singaporean citizens now enjoy visa-free access to 195 travel destinations out of 227.

2 France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain: These countries share the second spot, each with visa-free access to 192 destinations.

3 Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden: Enjoy access to 191 destinations without a prior visa.

4 UK, Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland: All have a visa-free destination score of 190.

5 Australia and Portugal: Jointly in fifth place with access to 189 destinations.

6 Greece and Poland: Holding the sixth spot with a score of 188.

7 Canada, Czechia, Hungary, and Malta: Tied in seventh place with access to 187 countries.

8 United States: Continuing its decade-long slide down the index, the US now ranks eighth with access to 186 destinations visa-free.

9 UAE, Estonia, and Lithuania: Citizens of these countries can go visa-free to 185 destinations.

10 Iceland, Latvia, Slovakia, and Slovenia: These four countries hold the 10th spot with a score of 184.

Airline connectivity and future trends

According to IATA, airlines are expected to connect nearly five billion people over 22,000 routes on 39 million flights in 2024. This extensive connectivity highlights the growing importance of powerful passports and international mobility.