The Emirates now holds the most powerful travel document in the Arab world, with the UAE passport climbing eight spots to claim joint second place in Henley & Partners’ 2026 Global Passport Index.
Emirati passport holders can access 187 destinations without a prior visa — a reach that reflects steady diplomatic expansion over the past decade. In 2016, the passport ranked 38th worldwide; it has since risen 36 positions to share second place with Japan and South Korea.
Singapore leads the global ranking with visa-free access to 192 destinations, retaining the top spot it has held in recent years. Sweden placed third, while a bloc of a dozen European nations — Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland — landed jointly in fourth. Austria, Greece, Malta, and Portugal rounded out fifth place.
The Henley index is compiled using official data from the International Air Transport Association, measuring how many destinations each passport allows entry to without advance visa requirements.
