World’s Most Powerful Passport: UAE Ranks First Again
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has once again been named the country with the world’s most powerful passport. According to the Passport Index by Arton Capital, the UAE ranked first in 2026. This is the sixth year in a row that the UAE has kept the top position.
The ranking is based on data as of January 2, 2026. It measures how many countries passport holders can visit without a visa or by getting a visa on arrival. In 2026, UAE passport holders can travel to 179 out of 199 destinations without needing a visa in advance. This gives the UAE a global reach of 90%.
Arton Capital’s Passport Index looks at travel access to 199 destinations. These include 193 United Nations member countries and six other territories, such as Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong, Kosovo, the Palestinian Territory, and the Vatican. The index gives each country a Mobility Score based on how many places its citizens can enter easily.
Other Arab countries are also improving their passport strength. In 2026, Qatar ranked second in the Arab world and 44th globally, with access to 119 destinations. Kuwait followed closely, ranking 45th worldwide, with access to 111 destinations. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain shared fourth place in the Arab region. Both ranked 49th globally and offer access to 101 destinations. Oman completed the top five in the Arab world, ranking 52nd globally with access to 96 destinations.
At the bottom of the ranking, Syria placed last in the Arab region and 94th worldwide, with access to 38 destinations. Afghanistan ranked last in the world, with access to only 37 destinations. This creates a gap of 142 destinations between the strongest and weakest passports in 2026.
On the global list, Singapore and Spain ranked second after the UAE, each offering access to 175 destinations. Fifteen European countries and three Asian countries shared third place, with access to 174 destinations. The United Kingdom and Canada ranked eighth worldwide, each allowing access to 169 destinations. China ranked 53rd, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 93 destinations.
The United States, which was once among the top five passports between 2015 and 2023, ranked ninth in 2026. U.S. passport holders can travel to 168 destinations without a visa in advance. According to Henley & Partners, the drop in ranking is linked to stricter border policies and fewer new visa-waiver agreements compared to some Asian and Middle Eastern countries.
Experts say that a strong passport is no longer just helpful for tourism. It is now seen as an important tool for wealth protection and global business. Countries with strong passports often attract wealthy individuals who want to move or invest abroad.
In 2025, around 165,000 millionaires were expected to move to a new country. The UAE was predicted to attract about 9,800 millionaires, bringing an estimated $63 billion in wealth. The United States was expected to welcome about 7,500 millionaires, adding around $43.7 billion. Italy, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia were also expected to attract many wealthy individuals, together adding more than $55 billion in new wealth.
The UAE’s top ranking shows its strong global connections and growing role as a hub for travel, business, and investment.
Published: 16th February 2026
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