As we’re busy making plans for travel in 2026, there’s good news for holders of the United Arab Emirates passport. The Emirates’ passport has moved up spots on the most powerful passports ranking, according to the Henley Passport Index. The latest ranking by the global index shows that the UAE has moved up the rankings. It’s changed from the 10th to 2nd most powerful passport in the world with an access score of 188.
Simply put, it means UAE travellers can visit 188 countries out of 227 global destinations without the hassles of visa applications and tedious paperwork. Emirati nationals can travel visa-free or get visa-on-arrival in these countries. This has been the UAE’s highest-ever score since the passport ranking index was established in 2006.
UAE passport is the second strongest in the world
According to the latest rankings released by the study, the UAE passport has had a steep climb on the index. It has moved up the ranks from 62nd position in 2006 to 2nd position in 2026. In the span of 19 years, the UAE has added more than 120 destinations to its visa-free score. It continues to be the only Arab nation in the top 10 powerful passports.
Besides being a ticket to the rest of the world for its citizens, a powerful passport also indicates the economic and diplomatic influence a country wields. A prime example is initiatives like the UAE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection partnership in October 2024 to allow Emirati citizens to apply for Global Entry membership.
World’s top 5 powerful passports in 2026
- 192 visa-free score: Singapore
- 188 visa-free score: Japan, South Korea, United Arab Emirates
- 187 visa-free score: Sweden
- 186 visa-free score: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Italy
- 185 visa-free score: Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Switzerland
See the 2026 Global Passport Ranking here.
What is the world’s least powerful passport?
Afghanistan is at the bottom of the passport index at a rank of #104 with access to just 22 countries without a visa. Other least powerful passports on the list ranking in the low 100s include countries like Syria (#103), Iraq (#102), Pakistan (#101), and Yemen (#100).
How does the Henley Passport Index ranking work?
The Henley Passport Index is the most trusted and authoritative rating of passports of every country in the world. This quarterly ranking rates the strength of a passport based on the number of destinations a particular passport holder can access without a prior visa. The ranking system evaluates 199 passports and 227 travel destinations based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
