UAE retains spot among ‘most powerful passports’ in the world

The UAE passport continues to maintain its status as the most powerful in the region and has experienced an increase in its global ranking, rising three spots to take the position of 12th-strongest passport globally.

According to the most recent Henley Passport Index, which was published on Tuesday, those with UAE passports can now travel to 179 countries without a visa.

This figure has climbed from 176 countries in July 2022 and 178 countries at the end of previous year.

Henley & Partners Chairman, Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, lauded the UAE for its outstanding development, which includes adding 107 locations to its list of countries with visa-free travel since 2013.

“The UAE has added an impressive 107 destinations to its visa-free score since 2013, resulting in a massive leap of 44 places in the ranking over the past 10 years from 56th to 12th position. This is almost double the next biggest climber, Colombia, which has enjoyed a jump of 28 places in the ranking to sit in 37th spot,” Kaelin said.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, according to Dr. Robert Mogielnicki, a Senior Resident Scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, have demonstrated a noticeable inclination towards increased openness, as evidenced by the UAE’s rise in openness score from 58 to 80 and Oman’s jump from 71 to 106 between 2018 and the present, marking a significant 22 and 35 point increase, respectively.

Though various regional countries have taken action, it’s important to note that only the UAE has seen a significant increase in travel freedom.

“Regional governments can impact the supply-side of the development equation by adjusting visa schemes, enacting reforms, and launching new initiatives. However, a greater supply of such offerings does not necessarily guarantee reciprocity or an immediate boost in global demand from individuals and firms. A Schengen-style visa to facilitate smoother travel between GCC countries is reportedly in the works. Such a step would require greater harmonization of region-wide visa regulations, potentially boosting the openness rankings of several GCC countries and placing the entire region more firmly in the global spotlight,” Mogielnicki said.