UAE ranks first worldwide in terms of passport power in 2026

The UAE maintained its global leadership in the 2026 Passport Index issued by Arton Capital after the UAE passport ranked first globally as the most powerful in terms of freedom of movement, surpassing the passports of major countries such as France, Spain, Singapore and Belgium.

According to the classification, the UAE passport allows its holder to travel to 138 countries without a prior visa and 44 countries with a visa upon arrival, while travel to only 16 destinations requires obtaining a prior visa, thus achieving 182 points on the general index. France and Spain tied for second place globally, while Singapore, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Switzerland, Portugal, Greece, Austria, Malaysia, Norway and Ireland came in third, followed by Malta, Poland, Hungary, Latvia, South Korea, and Japan in the fourth place.

The index is based on what is known as the mobility score, which measures the number of destinations that a passport holder can enter without a visa, with a visa on arrival, via an electronic travel authorization or a simplified electronic visa, reflecting the ease of movement of individuals across borders.

Armand Arton, founder of the Passport Index, pointed out that the data showed a global trend towards an increase in visa exemption agreements, despite the prevailing belief that travel restrictions are increasing, noting that a growing number of countries were signing agreements that allowed visa-free travel, which strengthened the power of many passports around the world.

The report pointed out that the expanding use of electronic permits and digital visas as well as bilateral and regional agreements, would lead to increased ease of international movement in the coming years, with the continued shift towards digital travel systems and smart immigration procedures.