The UAE passport has seen a robust climb, securing the 11th spot in Henley & Partner’s 2024 Passport Index. This elevates citizens to visa-free entry in 183 countries, showcasing a decade-long journey from 55th to 11th place, with an impressive addition of 106 destinations since 2014.
The UAE emerges as the leading climber in the region, outpacing Qatar (53), Kuwait (55), Bahrain (59), Oman (60), and Saudi Arabia (61). This consistent rise reflects the UAE’s commitment to global mobility enhancement.
A snapshot of the UAE passport’s evolution over the past ten years
| Years | Ranking |
| 2014 | 55 |
| 2015 | 42 |
| 2016 | 38 |
| 2017 | 38 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 11 |
Comparatively, passport holders from Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia enjoy visa-free access to 108, 102, 91, 90, and 89 countries, respectively.
Globally, European nations, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain have joined Japan and Singapore at the top, boasting the most powerful passports globally, enabling citizens to visit 194 destinations visa-free out of 227.
The trend highlights an expanding gap in global mobility, with top-ranked countries enjoying 166 more visa-free destinations than Afghanistan, situated at the bottom of the index, with access to just 28 countries without a visa.
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, notes that the average number of destinations for visa-free travel has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024. However, the disparity between top and bottom-ranked countries is wider than ever, underscoring the evolving landscape of global travel.
