In just ten years, the Emirati passport has grown to become the most powerful travel document in the Arab world and one of the strongest globally.

According to the 2019 Henley Passport Index, the UAE passport climbed five places in the last three months alone, reaching No. 15 on the "world's most powerful passports" list. This came after the country's nationals gained visa-free access to a number of African countries, including South Africa. 

But, that's not all. The UAE also ranked among the nations that made the largest jump in the ranking over the past 10 years. In 2009, the passport ranked No. 61 on the list. Now, it stands at No. 15. 

All in all, UAE passport holders can now access 172 destinations without being required to apply for a visa prior to arrival. 

Source: Khaleej Times

The index ranks passports according to the number of destinations its holders can access without the need for a visa. 

According to Henley researchers, the Gulf state's positive jump on the index can be attributed to a number of factors including "the nation's determination to position itself as a prominent player within the Middle East."

Top positions on the list continue to be held by Japan and Singapore, each with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 190 out of a maximum 227.

Throughout the index's 14-year history, a European country or the U.S. held top spots. However, there has been a major shift recorded since 2018, with Asian countries now climbing up the ranks. 

Finland, Germany and South Korea ranked second on this year's list, while Denmark, Italy, and Luxembourg came in 3rd.

The UAE passport has been rising on other indexes as well

Source: Instagram/UAE_EDA

Last year, rankings published by the Global Passport Index revealed that the UAE passport ranked as the world's 9th most powerful, offering ease of international travel to its citizens.

At the time, the index stated that UAE passport holders can travel to 112 countries without a visa. 

In just one year, the country has made leaps in its passport ranking and that hasn't come by chance. In 2017, the UAE said it hopes to see the country's passport rank among the top five most powerful passports in the world by 2021. To achieve this goal the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently has been actively extending its global diplomatic efforts in a bid to strengthen the country's passport.

A look at other Arab passports on the Henley list

Several Arab countries ranked at the bottom of the 2019 index. Iraq, for example, came in at No. 106, with citizens being able to travel to 27 nations without obtaining a visa prior to arrival. Syria came in at No. 105 on the list as its holders have visa-free access to only 29 countries.

A few regional countries fared better though including Kuwait, which came in at No. 56 with holders having visa-free access to 93 countries. 

Here's a simple breakdown of Arab countries as a whole:

  1. UAE (No. 15 globally; visa-free access to 172 countries)
  2. Kuwait (No. 56; visa-free access to 93 countries) 
  3. Qatar (No. 57; visa-free access to 92 countries) 
  4. Bahrain (No. 63; visa-free access to 81 countries) 
  5. Oman (No. 64; visa-free access to 79 countries)
  6. Saudi Arabia (No. 69; visa-free access to 74 countries)
  7. Tunisia (No. 75; visa-free access to 68 countries)
  8. Morocco (No. 80; visa-free access to 62 countries) 
  9. Jordan & Egypt (No. 92; visa-free access to 49 countries) 
  10. Lebanon (No. 100; visa-free access to 39 countries)
  11. Libya, Palestine & Sudan (No. 102; visa-free access to 37 countries)
  12. Yemen (No. 103; visa-free access to 33 countries)
  13. Syria (No. 105; visa-free access to 29 countries)
  14. Iraq (No. 106; visa-free access to 27 countries)