The UAE has secured a place among the Top 10 Most Powerful Passports in the world, according to the latest Henley Passport Index released on Tuesday. Ranking 9th, the UAE passport now offers visa-free access to 185 countries and territories.
This achievement marks a significant rise for the UAE, which has climbed 53 places from 62nd since the index’s inception in 2006, adding 152 destinations over the years.
The Henley Global Mobility Report for July 2024 highlights Singapore as holding the most powerful passport, providing visa-free access to 195 destinations. Meanwhile, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain share the second position with 192 destinations each.
The report also notes the UAE’s entry into the top 10 for the first time and discusses the decline of the US passport’s ranking. Afghanistan remains at the lower end of the index. The growing mobility gap and the economic impact of visa-free travel access, influenced by geopolitical factors, are key themes of the report.
Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, attributed the UAE’s rise to strategic efforts by the Emirati government to enhance the country’s status as a global business, tourism, and investment hub. He emphasized the strong correlation between a nation’s visa-free score and its economic prosperity, citing increased GDP per capita, foreign direct investment, and international trade relationships as benefits of a higher visa-free score.