UAE passport most powerful in the world
The UAE’s passport jumped to first place in the world, according to the ‘’Passport Index’’ of the Arton Capital International Financial Consulting Company.
This progress comes despite travel challenges linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, as many countries closed their borders to travelers last year as a precaution.
The most influential Emirati passport in the world
According to the Passport Index, the UAE passport ranks first worldwide in 152 countries, including 98 countries without prior visas and 54 countries whose visas are obtained online or upon arrival. This is six countries compared to New Zealand’s second place, where 146 countries entered visa-free.
According to the World Index, it ranked third in the world with 9 countries, with 144 countries entering: Germany, Finland, Austria, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, South Korea, and Australia. Currently, the passports of six other countries rank fourth globally with 143 countries entering the world without a visa: Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, and Ireland.
France, Malta, the Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, Hungary, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America ranked fifth in the world with entry into 142 countries without prior visas.
Coronavirus
Before the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020, the UAE passport ranked first in the world in terms of strength according to international classification, since it rose to first place in December 2018, allowing holders to enter 178 countries, including 118 countries without a prior visa, and 60 countries with an electronic visa or upon arrival at the airport.
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted global travel, resulting in a reduced passport strength as some countries continue to close entry and exit routes due to the pandemic, and despite these challenges, the UAE passport has remained strong.
In 2015, the UAE passport received a strong boost according to the index, after citizens were exempted from the Schengen visa for 26 EU countries, in addition to eight other countries in Europe outside the EU.
