The UAE passport has ranked as the world’s most powerful passport in 2026, according to the latest Passport Index published by Arton Capital which measures global mobility through visa-free travel, visa-on-arrival access and electronic travel authorisations.
The country recorded a mobility score of 182, ahead of Singapore and Spain, which both ranked second with scores of 175. The United States ranked ninth globally with a mobility score of 168, while the UK passport placed seventh with a score of 170.
The UAE was also the only Arab nation ranked within the global top 10. Qatar placed 41st globally, followed by Kuwait in 42nd, Saudi Arabia in 46th and Bahrain in 47th.
Passport holders can now travel visa-free to 127 destinations, obtain visas on arrival in 45 countries and access 10 destinations through electronic travel authorisation systems. Visas are currently required for only 16 destinations worldwide.
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UAE’s mobility score stood at 160 in 2021 before rising to 181 in 2022 and 182 this year, pointing to continued expansion in international travel access and bilateral mobility agreements.
The latest ranking comes as Gulf countries continue introducing travel facilitation measures and expanding international connectivity. India recently widened visa-on-arrival access for Emirati travellers to nine airports, while the UAE and Bahrain have piloted the One-Point Air Travellers project aimed at streamlining immigration procedures between the two countries.
Regional carriers including Emirates, Etihad Airways, Flydubai and Air Arabia have also expanded international networks in recent months, adding routes across Europe, Asia and Africa amid rising outbound and transit demand. Emirates carried 53.7 million passengers during the 2025-26 financial year, while Etihad Airways transported a record 22.4 million passengers in 2025.
For more information, visit www.passportindex.org