As we’re busy making plans for travel in 2024, there’s good news for holders of a UAE passport. The Emirates’ passport has held on to its spot amongst the top 20 powerful passports according to the Henley Passport Index. The latest ranking by the global index shows that the UAE has retained its position as the 11th most powerful passport in the world with an access score of 183.
Simply put, it means Emirati travellers can visit 183 countries out of 227 global destinations without the hassles of visa applications and tedious paperwork. Emirati nationals can travel visa-free or get visa-on-arrival in these countries.
UAE passport emerges as the biggest climber
According to the latest rankings released by the study, the Emirati passport has been the biggest climber on the Henley Passport Index by moving up the ranks from 55th position in 2014 to 11th position in 2024. In the span of 10 years, the UAE has added 106 destinations to its visa-free score. It’s also the only Arab nation in the top 20 powerful passports.
Besides being a ticket to the rest of the world for its citizens, a powerful passport also indicates the economic and diplomatic influence a country wields. This has been the UAE’s highest-ever score since the passport ranking index was established in 2006. Moving up from #61 in 2009 to #11 in 2024 reflects the meteoric growth and global prominence the Emirates has achieved in just 52 years!
World’s 15 most powerful passports
1. France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore and Spain
2. Finland, South Korea and Sweden
3. Austria, Denmark and Netherlands
4. Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal and the U.K.
5. Greece, Malta, Switzerland
6. Australia, Czhecia, New Zealand, Poland
7. Canada, Hungary, United States
8. Estonia and Lithuania
9. Latvia, Slovakia and Slovenia
10. Iceland
11. United Arab Emirates
12. Cyprus, Liechtenstein and Malaysia
13. Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania
14. Monaco
15. Chile
See the 2024 Global Passport Ranking here
What is the world’s least powerful passport?
Afghanistan is at the bottom of the passport index at a rank of #104 with access to just 28 countries without a visa. Other least powerful passports on the list ranking in the low 100s include countries like Syria (#103), Iraq (#102), Pakistan (#101), and Yemen (#100).
How does the Henley Passport Index ranking work?
The Henley Passport Index is the most trusted and authoritative rating of passports of every country in the world. This quarterly ranking rates the strength of a passport based on the number of destinations a particular passport holder can access without a prior visa. The ranking system evaluates 199 passports and 227 travel destinations based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).