23 December 2024

UAE Passport Named the World’s Most Powerful for the Fourth Consecutive Year

Table of content

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport has once again topped the Passport Index ranking, maintaining its position as the most powerful passport in the world for the fourth year in a row. UAE citizens boast an impressive mobility score of 180, granting access to over 90% of the world’s countries.

Key Highlights of the UAE Passport

  1. Visa-free access: 133 countries.
  2. Visa on arrival: 47 countries.
  3. Pre-arrival visa required: Only 18 countries.

This exceptional mobility places the UAE passport at the top of the ranking, surpassing even the leading European nations.

Comparison with Other Countries

  • Spain secured the second position with a mobility score of 179, offering visa-free access to 134 countries, visa on arrival in 45 countries, and requiring a visa for 19 countries.
  • Finland climbed to third place, overtaking France and Italy, both of which have a score of 178. The French passport remains the strongest among G20 nations.

Decline in Rankings for the UK and US

Both the UK and US continue to lose ground in the rankings:

  1. The UK passport fell from 22nd to 32nd place.
  2. The US passport dropped to 38th place in 2024, making it the weakest among the G7 nations.

Regional and Global Trends

  1. GCC Countries:
    1. Qatar ranked 95th (76 visa-free, 44 visa on arrival, 78 requiring visas).
    2. Kuwait ranked 96th (62/50/86).
    3. Saudi Arabia ranked 100th (57/46/95).
  2. Asia: South Korea lost its top-20 position, falling from 17th to 21st place, but remains a regional leader. Japan and Singapore follow in 25th and 30th places, respectively.

Expert Commentary

According to Hrant Boghossian, co-founder of the Passport Index:

“The World Openness Score has stabilized, and the sharp growth observed during the post-pandemic recovery has come to an end. European passports continue to dominate the rankings, remaining ahead of economic giants like the US and China. However, positive trends are also visible in other regions, particularly in the Balkans.”

The World’s Weakest Passports

The least powerful passports remain:

  1. Syria (40 mobility points).
  2. Afghanistan (41).
  3. Iraq (46).
  4. Somalia (46).
  5. Pakistan (47).

Conclusion

The UAE passport reinforces its status as a global leader in mobility, offering its citizens unparalleled opportunities for international travel. While geopolitical factors continue to influence global mobility, the UAE strengthens its position as one of the most open and respected hubs on the world stage.