The UAE passport is the most powerful in the world

 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport is the most powerful in the world, according to an annual list compiled by offshore consulting firm Nomad Capitalist.

According to the Nomad Passport Index, the UAE passport gives visa-free entry to 181 countries across the world. To rank the most powerful passports in the world, Nomad Passport Index assessed five factors: visa-free travel, taxation of citizens, global perception, willingness to grant dual citizenship and personal freedom.

The report said that the country’s business-friendly environment and enviable tax system helped the UAE to jump more than 30 places from last year. Jovana Vojinovic, Nomad Capitalist’s director of operations and sales, lauded the recent changes in the UAE passport, which allows foreigners to apply for dual citizenship. Vojinovic called the UAE passport the “winner of the decade.” She said, "The UAE added 106 new visa-free countries in the last decade.”

According to the Nomad report, the top 10 most powerful passports in the world are the UAE with 111 total scores, Luxembourg with 108 scores, Switzerland with 108 scores, Ireland with 108 scores, Portugal with 108 scores, Germany with 107 scores, Czech Republic with 107 scores, New Zealand with 107 scores, Sweden with 106 scores and Finland with 106 scores.

By obtaining a UAE passport, an individual can visit 181 countries. According to the "Passport Index" website of Arton Capital Consulting, the UAE passport grants its holder entry to 120 visa-free countries, 57 countries whose visas can be obtained online or upon arrival, and 21 countries require a prior visa. According to Arton Capital's Passport Index, the UAE maintained its first position since 2018.

The Henley Passport Index placed the UAE passport at 15 this year. The ranking was based on the number of destinations UAE passport holders can access without obtaining a prior visa.