UAE Becomes the Only Arab Nation in Top 10 Most Powerful Passports

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has secured among the world’s top 10 most powerful passports by achieving 8th place in the latest Henley Passport Index. The UAE is now the only Arab nation to reach the global top 10th which is a milestone that reflects the country’s strategic efforts to enhance its international mobility and global influence with visa free access to 184 designations.

The UAE passport has experienced remarkable growth by rising from 32nd position in 2015 to 8th today as of 2025. The UAE has climbed from 62nd place making it the biggest gainer over the past decade since the index’s inception in 2006. The UAE has outpaced every other country in passport power growth by adding 72 new destinations.

Where Do Other Countries Stand?

Leading the global rankings, Singapore holds the top position granting its citizens visa free or visa on arrival access to 193 out of 227 destinations. South Korea and Japan share second place with 190 visa free destinations each.

The third place is dominated by European nations including Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Ireland, Finland and Denmark, all of which allow access to 187 destinations.

Other notable rankings include:

• Australia (6th place) – 189 destinations
• Canada (7th place) – 188 destinations
• United States (9th place) – 186 destinations

Meanwhile, China made a notable leap climbing from 94th in 2015 to 59th now offering access to 83 destinations.

Biggest Declines & Struggles at the Bottom:

While some countries experienced gains others faced significant declines. The United States once ranked 2nd has now dropped to 9th. Venezuela saw the largest decline falling 42 places to 44th.

At the bottom of the list, Afghanistan (99th place) remains the world’s least powerful passport with access to just 25 destinations. Iraq (97th place) and Syria (98th place) also remain among one of the weakest passports with 30 and 27 visa free countries respectively.

UAE’s passport power highlights the country’s ongoing diplomatic success and global integration as the UAE marks its position among the world’s most influential nations.