UAE passport is 2nd most powerful passport in the world according to latest rankings

The UAE maintained its second-place ranking globally in the Henley & Partners Passport Index 2026 after the UAE passport allowed its holder to enter 188 destinations round the world without the need for a prior visa or a visa upon arrival.

This achievement reflected the continued strength of the country’s diplomatic relations and the expansion of its network of international agreements.

According to the ranking, Singapore came in first place with access to 192 destinations, while the UAE shared second place with Japan and South Korea with 188 destinations.

Sweden came in third with 187 destinations, while Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain came in fourth with access to 186 destinations. Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal and Switzerland came in fifth with 185 destinations.

The report noted that the UAE was the biggest riser since January 2026, having advanced three places to reach second place globally, confirming that it also achieved the biggest improvement in the history of the index over the past two decades.

The UAE passport added 153 new destinations that could be entered without a visa over the past 20 years, moving from an average ranking when the index was launched in 2006 to the ranks of the world’s most powerful passports, the report said.

This was described as a prominent example of the impact of sustained diplomatic engagement and international co-operation in promoting global freedom of movement.

“Passport strength has become one of the most prominent indicators of a country’s geopolitical standing and the strongest passports belong to countries with which other countries seek to build partnerships in the areas of trade, investment, security and international co-operation,” said Dr. Christian Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and inventor of the index.

The report noted that the exceptional performance of the UAE passport reflected the country’s success in expanding its international partnerships and strengthening its diplomatic and economic presence, which contributed to consolidating its position among the world’s most powerful passports.

The average number of destinations that passport holders around the world could enter without a visa rose to 108 in 2026, compared to only 58 when the index was launched in 2006, despite declining levels of global peace and increasing number of international conflicts during the same period, the report added.