UAE passport joins global top 5 after fastest ascent in 20 years

The UAE passport has become one of the world’s most powerful, climbing five places from 10th in 2025 to fifth globally on the 2026 Henley Passport Index – its first time in the top five.

Recording the strongest upward trajectory of any country worldwide in the past two decades, the UAE has climbed an unprecedented 57 places on the Index and gained visa-free access to 149 additional destinations over the past 20 years, the largest improvement logged since Henley & Partners began tracking global passport strength.

With visa-free access to 184 destinations, the UAE now ranks alongside Slovenia, Slovakia, Portugal and Hungary, surpassing traditionally high-ranking passports such as those of Canada, Australia and Malaysia.

The UAE also remains the strongest performer in the region, with other Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain, also recording steady gains over the past five years, reflecting a broader uplift in GCC passport strength. 

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International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General Willie Walsh said: “A record number of people are expected to travel in 2026. The unequivocal economic and social benefits generated by this travel grow as it becomes more accessible.” 

In addition to holding one of the world’s  most powerful passports, UAE residents benefit from visa-free access across a growing number of destinations. Popular choices include Baku in Azerbaijan and Tbilisi in Georgia, as well as the Maldives, which was the most popular destination for UAE travellers in 2025, according to Dnata Travel. 

As a destination, the UAE continues to streamline access for international visitors, offering visa-free entry to tourists from more than 80 nations. In the first half of 2025, Dubai welcomed more than 11 million international visitors, marking a 5% year-on-year increase, while Abu Dhabi was the most searched luxury destination for 2026 among US travellers, according to data from Travel Guard. 

For more information, visit henleyglobal.com