- The UAE passport climbed to joint second place globally with access to one hundred eighty-eight destinations.
- Singapore maintains the top global ranking with access to one hundred ninety-two visa-free travel destinations.
- UAE diplomacy has expanded visa-free access by one hundred fifty-three countries over the last twenty years.
The UAE passport rose six places in a year on the July 2026 Henley Passport Index, reaching joint second with access to 188 destinations. Singapore stayed first with 192. Four destinations separated the leaders. That was the gap.
The move built on an even faster start to 2026. The document stood eighth in July 2025, then fifth in January 2026, before reaching second again by July. It gained three places from January alone. The climb kept going.
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the index, said the ranking reflects geopolitical weight. He tied passport strength to how other governments see a country.
"Passport power is one of the clearest expressions of a country’s geopolitical capital. The strongest passports belong to nations that other countries want as partners — for trade, investment, security, or cooperation."
His point was blunt. Power travels well.
The index relies on exclusive IATA Timatic data. It counts places travelers can reach without obtaining a traditional visa before travel. The ledger covers 227 destinations. That method shapes the list.
The latest report described the result as the strongest-ever position in the index’s 20-year history. Since 2006, the passport has moved from 62nd and a score of 35 to joint second, and its visa-free access expanded by 153 destinations. Two decades changed the picture. Fast.
Singapore stayed first, but second place was crowded
| Rank | Passport | Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 192 |
| 2 | UAE | 188 |
| 2 | Japan | 188 |
| 2 | South Korea | 188 |
The field at the top stayed tight. Three passports shared second.
His Excellency Omar Obaid Al Shamsi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, linked the climb to leadership and diplomacy. He said the result came from partnerships built over time.
"The record-breaking ascent of the UAE passport reflects our leadership’s forward-looking vision and unwavering commitment to openness, dialogue, and global cooperation. This achievement is the result of the tireless efforts of UAE diplomacy to establish strategic partnerships that elevate the nation’s standing on the international stage."
He pointed to steady statecraft. Not luck.
Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, said the ministry’s work was aimed at making citizens’ lives easier abroad. He added that the document now stands among the strongest in the world.
"Under the directives of our wise leadership, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has worked to make citizens’ lives easier abroad. Today, the UAE passport stands among the strongest and most respected in the world. True diplomacy is what really serves people."
The message was practical. Travel ease mattered.
The longer campaign began in 2017, when the "UAE Passport Force" initiative set a goal of placing the document among the top five globally by 2021. The index now shows it has gone beyond that target. The finish line moved. It was crossed.
