The UAE passport has topped the global ranks to become the most powerful passport in the world. Passports are ranked based on mobility score, which indicates how many countries the passport holder can travel to hassle-free. UAE passports hold a mobility score of 181, the highest globally.
According to Passport Index, UAE passport holders can travel to 123 countries visa-free, 58 countries with visa on arrival and only require visas to 17 countries.
With a world reach of 91 percent, the passport holds the number 1 power rank, currently.
According to the charts, UAE passports had a mobility score of 179 for a period in 2019 which then drastically dropped during the pandemic to a score of 90.
As travel restrictions eased post-pandemic, the mobility score saw a steep upward curve to a score of 117 in 2020, 160 in 2021 and 181 in 2022 and 2023.
Top rankings
| PASSPORT POWER RANK | MOBILITY SCORE |
|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | 181 |
| Sweden | 174 |
| Germany | 174 |
| Finland | 174 |
| Luxembourg | 174 |
| Spain | 174 |
| France | 174 |
| Italy | 174 |
| Netherlands | 174 |
| Austria | 174 |
| Switzerland | 174 |
| South Korea | 174 |
At the bottom of the rankings, according to the passport index are Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia and Bangladesh.
Throughout the pandemic, the UAE largely stayed away from the full-scale lockdowns seen around the world, instead relying on strict mask mandates and inoculations.
The government’s nimble handling of the pandemic drew in visitors from around the world looking to escape curbs in their home countries.
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