UAE passport ranked most powerful in the world
UAE passport holder can travel to 167 countries without the need for pre-visa requirements
In a notable achievement, the UAE passport has become the world’s strongest passport and is now ranked first globally.
Coming on Dec. 1, 2018, this coincides with the “Year of Zayed” and country’s 47th National Day, and is added to country’s numerous accomplishments in various domains.
The UAE passport was ranked first by Passport Index, an interactive online tool issued by Arton Capital that provides users with insights on passports, with the ability to compare and rank the world’s passports.
The UAE passport holder can travel to 167 countries without the need for pre-visa requirements, which is 84 percent of the number of countries listed in the index.
The UAE passport was on 27th position in December 2016, and now attained first place in December 2018.
The UAE, under the leadership of the President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, has surpassed all expectations in this accomplishment.
It was achieved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation under the leadership of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
Sheikh Abdullah said: “This achievement is a true reflection of the legacy of Sheikh Zayed, the founding father of the UAE. It also underscores what can be achieved through positive diplomacy, reflecting the UAE as a confident and engaged force on the global stage.”
It mirrors the country’s civilized face, respect and appreciation at the regional and international levels. It is supported by a wise policy and leadership that has been working hard to build the country’s bright image abroad to make it a hub for wisdom, moderation, coexistence and peace.
The ministry launched the UAE Passport Force initiative to place the Emirati passport on the list of the five most powerful passports in the world by 2021. However, the country has achieved this goal three years ahead of target.
The strength of the passport not only represents the identity of the citizen, but is also an important factor affecting its access to global opportunities, ease of movement and quality of life.
The Passport Index is a global benchmark for classifying international passports and reflects the world’s view on the power and impact of passport.
Armand Arton, founder and president of Arton Capital, said that the Passport Index is the most prominent rating of passport strength through an interactive platform that continuously monitors changes and developments, adding that it has become the world’s premier reference for governments.
“We continuously compare the passports of 193 countries and 6 territories of UN members and work to collect data directly and continuously, all through publicly available information, government sources and international bodies. We determine the strength of the passport based on the ability of the citizens of a country to travel to another country without the need for a visa in advance and obtaining visa access from the airport,” said Arton.
He added that the Emirati passport has witnessed unprecedented progress globally in the past few years, reflecting the international stature of the country. “We congratulate the UAE on this great achievement, and are pleased to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation since the launch of the UAE Passport Force initiative,” he said.
Through this achievement, the freedom of movement to many countries of the world is added to the list of what the UAE offers its citizens.
The positive impact of ease of travel not only makes it possible for UAE nationals to travel freely for tourism, but also has economic, developmental and even humanitarian benefits, by facilitating trade and economic investment for individuals and institutions.