UAE Passport Ranks No. 2 Globally with Access to 187 Destinations

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Manama: The UAE passport has climbed to its highest-ever position in the Henley Passport Index, and is now tied at No 2 alongside Japan and South Korea, with access to 187 visa-free destinations. The passport climbed up three spots from January, when it was ranked at No 5.

Singapore continues to hold the top spot, offering visa-free travel to 192 destinations.

The UAE remains the only Arab country in the top 10 and has recorded one of the most significant gains in passport power worldwide.

The milestone caps a rapid rise over the past decade, with the UAE passport climbing from 64th place in 2012 to its current position in 2026.

The expansion in access has been driven by sustained diplomatic efforts, including the 2015 Schengen visa waiver, which helped accelerate its ascent into the top 40.

The UAE entered the top 20 by 2019 and continued to advance despite pandemic-era travel restrictions, overtaking the US, UK and Canada by 2024 before breaking into the top 10 in 2025.

Rankings for other Gulf countries include Qatar at No 45, Kuwait at No 47, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain tied at No 51, and Oman at No 54.

Compiled by UK-based consultancy Henley & Partners using data from the International Air Transport Association (Iata), the index ranks passports based on how many destinations holders can access without a prior visa.

Passport strength also affects how easily people can travel internationally, whether for business, tourism or emergencies, without the need for lengthy visa processes that can include additional paperwork and interviews.

The 10 most powerful passports in 2026

• Singapore (192 destinations)
• Japan, South Korea and the UAE (187)
• Sweden (186)
• Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Switzerland (185)
• Austria, Greece, Malta and Portugal (184)
• Hungary, Malaysia, Poland and the UK (183)
• Australia, Canada, Czechia, Latvia and New Zealand (182)
• Croatia and Estonia (181)
• Liechtenstein and Lithuania (180)
• Iceland and the US (179)