The UAE passport has officially secured its position as the world’s most powerful passport in 2026, according to the latest Passport Index released by Arton Capital.
The UAE achieved a global mobility score of 182, surpassing major global passports including Singapore and Spain, which jointly ranked second with a score of 175.
The ranking further strengthens the UAE’s growing reputation as one of the world’s leading global travel and business hubs.
UAE passport offers extensive global travel access
According to the latest Passport Index 2026 rankings, UAE passport holders can now access 127 destinations visa-free and receive visa-on-arrival access to 45 destinations worldwide.
Additionally, electronic travel authorization (eTA) access is available for 10 destinations, while visas are required for only 16 countries globally.
The UAE passport also achieved a world reach score of 91 percent in 2026, highlighting the country’s strong diplomatic relations and expanding international partnerships.
UAE passport mobility score continues to rise
The UAE passport has shown remarkable growth over the past several years.
Its mobility score improved from:
- 160 in 2021
- 181 in 2022
- 180 in 2024
- 179 in 2025
- 182 in 2026
The significant rise reflects the UAE’s continuous efforts to strengthen international cooperation, global connectivity, and bilateral agreements with countries worldwide.
European countries dominate top global passport rankings
While the UAE secured first place globally, European countries continued to dominate the upper ranks of the Passport Index 2026.
Countries ranking third globally included:
- Belgium
- France
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Italy
- Portugal
- Netherlands
- Finland
- Austria
- Norway
- Ireland
Meanwhile, Japan, South Korea, Malta, Hungary, and Poland ranked among the world’s fourth most powerful passports.
UAE leads the Arab world in passport strength
The UAE passport was the only Arab passport to rank among the global top 10 in 2026.
Other GCC countries ranked significantly lower:
- Qatar ranked 41st
- Kuwait ranked 42nd
- Saudi Arabia ranked 46th
- Bahrain ranked 47th
The strong global ranking demonstrates the UAE’s growing international influence, diplomatic strength, and global mobility advantages for its citizens.
US and UK passports rank lower globally
The report also highlighted the position of major Western passports.
The United States passport ranked 9th globally with a mobility score of 168, while the United Kingdom passport secured 7th place with a score of 170.
Despite remaining among the world’s stronger passports, both countries ranked below the UAE in overall global mobility access.
UAE strengthens global connectivity and travel freedom
The UAE’s top global ranking reflects the country’s long-term vision of enhancing international relations, economic partnerships, tourism, and business connectivity.
As the UAE continues expanding its diplomatic footprint and global agreements, the strength of the UAE passport is expected to remain one of the country’s key international advantages.
