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UAE passport gets stronger, gains five places on Henley index

Dubai - UAE passport holders can now access 172 destinations without a prior visa.

The UAE passport has continued its climb towards the top of the table on the Henley Passport Index.

The Emirati passport has gained an extraordinary five places over the last three months after gaining visa-free access to a number of African countries, including South Africa, and now sits in 15th place on the list of the world's most powerful passports. UAE passport holders can now access 172 destinations without a prior visa.

The UAE's remarkable upward momentum on the Henley index has been attributed to a number of factors, including the nation's determination to position itself as a prominent player within the Middle East, the report added.


Holding on to their top positions were Japan and Singapore, each with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 190 out of a maximum 227, Henley and Partners said.

"For most of the index's 14-year history - which is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) - the top spot has been held by a European country or by the US. However, this shifted dramatically in 2018, with Asian countries now firmly established as world leaders when it comes to both global economic activity and global mobility," the index said.

With visa-free/visa-on-arrival scores of 188, Finland, Germany, and South Korea remain in 2nd place, while Denmark, Italy, and Luxembourg are in the 3rd place, with citizens of those countries now able to access 187 destinations worldwide without requiring a visa in advance. With a score of 184, the UK and the US remain in joint 6th place - the lowest position either country has held since 2010 and a significant drop from their 1st-place ranking in 2014.

Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan remain at the bottom of the ranking, with visa-free/visa-on-arrival scores of just 29, 27, and 25, respectively.

India's passport gained from 86th rank to 82nd, while the ranking of the Pakistani passport improved from 106th to 104th.

According to another index, Passport Index, the UAE passport is the world's strongest with 177 points, followed by Finland, Luxembourg, Germany and Spain sharing the second spot jointly with 170 points. (Click here for the complete report)