The UAE passport ranks fifth worldwide in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, placing it among the most powerful travel documents globally.
The ranking makes the UAE the strongest in the Middle East and higher than its position in 2025. Emirati passport holders can enter 184 destinations either without a visa or with visa on arrival, giving wider travel access than several other major economies.
Globally, the UAE passport is ranked above those of the UK, Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. The UK placed seventh, while Canada ranked ninth. Singapore remained the highest-ranked passport, allowing access to about 192 destinations, followed by Japan and South Korea in second place. Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain and Sweden shared third place.
The UAE shares fifth position with Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia, all offering access to 184 destinations. Countries and territories that UAE passport holders can visit visa-free or with visa on arrival include Austria, Belgium, the UK, Thailand, Switzerland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Norway, New Zealand, the Maldives and Germany.
The Henley Passport Index measures travel access for 199 passports across 227 destinations. Data from the index shows the UAE has recorded the largest rise over the past 20 years, adding 149 destinations since 2006 and moving up 57 places, a change linked to expanded diplomatic ties and visa waiver agreements.