By Staff Reporter
Dubai: The UAE now holds the most powerful passport in the Arab world and ranks eighth globally, according to the Henley Passport Index’s mid-year 2025 report. This marks the highest global mobility ranking ever achieved by an Arab nation.
The UAE passport offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 183 destinations, a testament to the country’s expanding diplomatic reach and its open, proactive foreign policy.
Over the past decade, the UAE has soared from 42nd place in 2015 to 8th in 2025, representing one of the most significant ascents in the index’s history.
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The Henley Passport Index is regarded as the original and authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports, based on the number of destinations holders can access without requiring a prior visa.
The index draws on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) — the world’s most comprehensive travel information database — and is further enhanced by Henley & Partners’ in-house research.
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Singapore continues to hold the top global spot, with its passport granting access to 193 destinations. Japan and South Korea follow in second place with 190 destinations. Meanwhile, seven European countries — including Germany, France, Italy, and Spain — share third place.
The UAE’s rapid rise is largely attributed to a growing number of visa waiver agreements signed with countries worldwide. A recent breakthrough deal with China, which now offers visa-free entry to citizens of all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, further boosted the UAE’s global mobility standing.
While the UAE’s progress has been lauded, traditional passport powerhouses have seen their influence decline. The UK and US have slipped to 6th and 10th place, respectively — reflecting a trend of increasingly restrictive entry policies in Western nations.
At the lower end of the rankings, Afghanistan remains the world’s least powerful passport, granting its citizens visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to just 25 destinations.
A shift in global mobility power
Commenting on the findings, Dr Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, said the results point to a fundamental shift in global mobility dynamics.
“Traditional mobility leaders are losing ground in a world where multipolarity is on the rise,” Dr Kaelin remarked. “Emerging economies are liberalising their visa regimes and investing in diplomatic capital, while traditional powers appear to be retreating behind more restrictive entry policies.”
The UAE’s impressive progress in the Henley Passport Index reflects its broader geopolitical and economic ambitions — positioning itself as a leading global hub for travel, business, and diplomacy.
