UAE passport retains world's most powerful ranking with record mobility score

The UAE passport has retained its position as the world's most powerful passport in 2026, Khaleej Times reported, quoting the Arton Capital Passport Index, after achieving a record mobility score of 182.

The ranking extends the UAE's hold on the top spot to nine consecutive years, a streak it has maintained since 2018. The milestone comes even as global passport openness hit its lowest level since 2023.

What makes the UAE passport the world's most powerful in 2026?

The UAE passport reached a record score of 182, giving Emirati citizens visa-free access to 127 destinations. A further 45 countries offer visa-on-arrival access and 10 allow entry through electronic travel authorization.

Only 16 destinations worldwide still require advance visas, giving the passport a global mobility reach of 91%.

How did the UAE passport rise to the top of global rankings?

The UAE's climb followed the launch of the UAE Passport Force Initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2017, which aimed to place the passport among the world's five strongest by 2021. In less than a decade, the UAE rose from 88th position globally to first place. A key milestone came in 2015, when Emirati citizens gained visa-free access to Schengen countries, making the UAE the first Arab nation to secure visa-free travel to 34 European destinations.

Armand Arton, CEO of Arton Capital and co-founder of the Passport Index, described 2026 as a landmark year for the UAE passport. He said the country had maintained its global relevance despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. According to Arton Capital, the UAE's continued rise reflects expanding diplomatic influence at a time when many countries are seeing stagnation or reduced visa-free access.

Which other passports rank alongside the UAE in 2026?

Singapore retained second place with a score of 175, while Spain also recorded 175. Malaysia remained the only other Asian country in the top tier, placing 17th. South Korea and Japan both dropped four places, with South Korea falling out of the top 20 entirely. European passports continued to dominate the global rankings, with Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Denmark among the strongest.

Luxembourg made the most notable move in the top tier, climbing from 10th to fifth place and pushing Finland out of the top 10.

Why is the world openness score falling in 2026?

The Passport Index reported a decline in its World Openness Score for 2026, marking the lowest level since 2023. Arton Capital linked the drop to stricter visa regulations, increased digitalization of border systems, and tighter nationality-based travel controls. Only 11 countries improved their mobility scores in 2026, compared with 24 countries in 2025.

Australia, the United States, Canada and New Zealand all slipped in the Welcoming Countries ranking due to tighter entry measures and expanded restrictions. The United Kingdom bucked the trend, improving by two places despite introducing mandatory Electronic Travel Authorizations. A broader decline in openness was also recorded across Europe following the adoption of the ETIAS system by 30 European countries.

Armand Arton warned that growing global instability and tightening travel restrictions could further widen disparities in passport strength in the coming years, making global mobility an increasingly significant measure of a nation's diplomatic reach.