UAE passport ranked 12th globally with access to 179 countries without a visa
- 18 Jul 2023
Ahmed Al Bashir, Staff Reporter
The UAE passport ranked 12th globally and first in the Middle East, advancing 3 places in the list of the most powerful passports issued by Henley & Partners, where its holders can visit 179 destinations without a visa.
It is worth noting that during the past ten years, the UAE passport has increased by 44 places, jumping from 56th in 2013 to 12th now, next to the Cyprus passport.
Christian Kaelin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Henley & Partners, said that the UAE has added 107 wonderful destinations to the total number of destinations which its passport holder can travel to without a visa, since 2013, which resulted in a big jump of 44 places in the ranking over the past ten years, from the 56th place to the 12th place.
It is worth noting that the UAE is the only GCC country ranked among the first fifty on the index.
According to the Henley Index, the degree of openness to the UAE increased from 58 points to 80 points, since 2018, to be ranked the 55th in the world.
This is due to the scope of travel freedom that the UAE passport grants to its holder, in addition to the country's "business-friendly environment and enviable tax system," according to the index.
According to the consulting firm Nomad Capitalist, which tracks passport rankings, which also includes 199 countries, highlights the best nationalities in the world, and classifies passports based on 5 criteria, namely:
1- Travelling without a visa, as the UAE passport allows its holder to enter 181 destinations, either without a visa, a visa upon arrival, or through an electronic travel permit.
2- Taxes on citizens: According to the index, the UAE scored 50 in this criterion, which means "zero taxes" on the citizen.
3- Public perception: Nomad Capitalist relied on global happiness reports, the human development index, and subjective factors to determine how to receive the citizens of each country.
4- Dual nationality: A score of 30 means that UAE nationals are often allowed to hold another nationality.
5- Personal freedom: This criterion is based on data and news reports on personal freedoms.
