TL; Dr.
- The UAE is globally ranked 8th, which provides visa-free or visa-on-back access to 184 countries.
- It is the only country in the Middle East that makes it in the Henley Passport Index Top 10.
- The UAE jumped to 34 places in 10 years, which was the largest climb recorded in the index.
The United Arab Emirates has become one of the top players in the world in the strength of passport, now ranked 8th globally in the 2025 Henley Passport Index. Amirati citizens can now travel 184 destinations without applying for visa, with either visa-free or visa-on-back access.This was not always the case. A decade ago, UAE passport holders could enter only 35 countries without a pre -visa. At that time the country was ranked 42nd. Fast for today, and the UAE has not only entered the global top 10, but has also recorded the biggest jump in the ranking seen in the 20 -year history of the index.Is it even more notable? The UAE is the only country in the Middle East to appear in the global top 10. It now sits with long -established global passport leaders such as Canada, Estonia and European Union countries.Growth is a clear result of active diplomacy, strategic partnership and years of visa discounts in continents. It is not just about travel facility. It also shows the growing presence of UAE in global affairs, economics and international cooperation.
What is the Henley Passport Index?
Henley Passport Index ranks passport as to how many countries they provide visa access. This includes 199 passports and 227 destinations.It is not just an annual snapshot. The index has been monitoring freedom from 2006 and is often used by governments and policy experts. The 2025 update shows how much has changed in the last decade, especially for countries like UAE.
UAE’s big jump
The rise of UAE is not casual. This is the result of frequent foreign policy efforts with the aim of improving the global mobility of its citizens.
- In 2015, UAE Passport reached only 35 countries.
- By 2025, this number increased to 185, a 34-spot jump.
- This is the biggest improvement by any country in the history of the index.
Diplomatic efforts have played a big role. The UAE has signed dozens of visa-wise agreements over the years, especially with European, Asian and Latin American countries. These deals opened new travel options for citizens and made passports more useful globally.Now, with its 8th-play rankings, the UAE sits next to the passport powerhouse for a long time. It is also the only country in the Middle East which has broken into the top 10.
Where the Middle East is standing
The field is earning profit as a whole. Many Gulf countries have improved their ranking in 2025:
- Saudi Arabia is now ranked 54th, with visa-free access to 91 countries.
- Qatar has been ranked 47th with access to 112 countries.
- Bahrain and Oman follow closely on the 55th and 56th, with access to 90 and 88 countries respectively.
A part of this promotion comes from China’s recent decision to allow visa-free entry for citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia. That step has given more access to citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) than ever.Nevertheless, none of these countries matches the boom of the UAE. It is a clearly made in the regional passport power.
Who is in the global top 10?
The strongest passport in 2025 is from Singapore, whose citizens can travel visa-free for 193 destinations.Here’s how the remaining top 10 looks:
- Singapore (193)
- Japan, South Korea (190)
- France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Finland, Denmark, Ireland (189)
- Sweden, Portugal, Austria, Netherlands (188)
- Greece, Switzerland, New Zealand (187)
- United Kingdom (186)
- Australia, Chechia, Hungary, Malta, Poland (185)
- UAE, Canada, Estonia (184)
- Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (183)
- United States, Lithuania, Iceland (182)
The US, once a major force, is now on the edge of the fall out of the top 10, the first in the history of 20 years of the index.
Reseurs and Fallors: India, Saudi Arabia and America
Some countries saw dramatic changes this year:
- India jumped the largest ranking, with eight spots ranked 77th. This is only about two more visa-free sites, now a total of 59.
- Saudi Arabia added four new destinations since January, which ranks 54th.
- Both the US and Britain slipped to the same place, which continued to a bottom tendency, which lasted for years.
Change reflects changes in diplomatic influence, global travel policies and how the changing visas of nations.Afghanistan lives at the bottom of the 2025 rankings, with its passports to access only 25 destinations.
Fasting
- 1. How many countries can UAE passport holders go without visas?
By 2025, UAE citizens can travel to 185 countries without the need for visa in advance.
- 2. Why did the UAE passport increase so soon in the ranking?
The growth is due to strong diplomatic outreach and several visa discount agreements over the last decade.
- 3. Is UAE the strongest passport in the Middle East?
Yes. It is the only passport from the ranked area in the global top 10 and remains the highest rank in the Middle East.
