UAE passport hits record score of 182 on Arton Capital's index

Khaleej Times breaks the score down further. Emiratis can enter 127 countries visa-free, get a visa on arrival in another 45, and use an electronic travel authorization in 10 more. Only 16 destinations still require a visa arranged in advance. Together, that gives the UAE passport a world reach of 91%, plus the top spot in both the index's global and individual power rankings.

This year's score is the highest the UAE has ever recorded on the index. It breaks the country's own previous best.

Khaleej Times reports that the UAE is one of just three non-European passports inside the top 20, alongside Singapore and Malaysia. European passports otherwise dominate the rankings. Mobility gains are also getting harder to find industry-wide: only 11 countries improved their score in 2026, compared with 24 the year before, per the same index data.

Armand Arton, chief executive of Arton Capital and co-founder of the Passport Index, called it a milestone result. "This is a standout year for the Passport Index, with record highs achieved by the UAE," he said. The country "remains unshakeable in its relevance on the global stage" despite wider geopolitical tensions, he added. Looking ahead, he said: "We anticipate that 2027 will generate ever greater disparities in individual passport power due to the potential for further global unrest, coupled with tightening restrictions and lower world openness."

The Passport Index measures what it calls a Global Mobility Score. It counts the destinations a passport holder can enter visa-free, on a visa on arrival, or through an electronic travel authorization or e-visa issued within three working days. The assessment covers 199 travel destinations in total, comprising 193 UN member states and six territories. Arton Capital says it updates the data continuously, using information collected directly from government sources.

The UAE's climb up the ranking dates back to the Passport Force Initiative. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched it in 2017, with a goal of ranking the passport among the world's five strongest by 2021. The country's score climbed from 88th place globally to first within a decade, and it has held the top spot outright since 2018.

The turnaround started even before that initiative. Emirati citizens gained visa-free access to 34 European countries in 2015. That made the UAE the first Arab country to secure that kind of access to the region, according to Khaleej Times.

Khaleej Times, Gulf News, and Arabian Business all reported the record score on 19 May 2026. Gulf News returned to the ranking again on 24 July, as the UAE's lead over the rest of the field continued to draw attention.

In practice, a higher mobility score means fewer visa applications and less advance planning before an international trip, whether it is a weekend away or a longer business or study trip. Travelers can check requirements for a specific destination directly on the Passport Index site. Arton Capital says it updates the site as individual countries change their entry rules.

The UAE passport was outside the world's top 80 shortly before the Passport Force Initiative launched in 2017. The current ranking marks a fairly complete reversal.