The United Arab Emirates’s passports. Photo by Henley Passport Index
The United Arab Emirates’s passport has climbed three places since January to rank as the world’s second most powerful in the latest Henley Passport Index 2026, marking the highest position it has achieved in the 20-year history of the ranking.
It shared the position with South Korea and Japan, with their citizens able to enjoy visa-free access to 187 destinations.
Over the history of the index, UAE’s highest ranking was 5th in January 2026.
The passport ranked 62nd in 2006 but climbed to 38th a decade later. Last year, it ranked 10th globally.
Insiders said the rise in the global passport ranking was driven by the country’s expanding economic ties, strategic visa policies, and the growth of bilateral and multilateral partnerships that have strengthened its global standing.
Singapore continues holding the title of the world’s most powerful passport, allowing visa-free entry to 192 destinations.
The Henley Passport Index tracks global travel freedom across 227 countries and territories, using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
It ranks 199 passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without obtaining a visa in advance. Updated regularly throughout the year to reflect changes in visa policies, the index is widely regarded as a key measure of global mobility.
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