UAE Passport Ranked as the Most Powerful in the World

The world’s most powerful passports for 2024 have been revealed – and the UAE tops the charts for the fourth year in a row.

The global ranking indicates the number of countries citizens around the world can enter visa-free.

Those living in the UAE have access to more than 90 per cent of the world and are able to visit 133 countries visa-free and 47 by virtue of a visa on arrival.

The rest of the top 20 is dominated by European countries, with 19 of the top 20 most powerful countries located in Europe.

Spain overtakes Germany (5th) to become the second most powerful passport in the world, while Finland jumps into third place ahead of France (4th), Belgium (6th) and Italy (7th). France remains the strongest of the G20 nations.

The UK continues to slide down the ranking, dropping 10 places from 22nd to 32nd in 2024. UK passport holders are able to visit 125 countries visa-free and 49 with visa on arrival. It last held a place in the top 10 in 2017. 

The USA also saw its passport fall further in the index, falling from 27th to 38th. U.S citizens can visit 123 countries without a visa and 50 by virtue of a visa on arrival. The U.S last held a top 20 ranking in 2019.

Arton Capital, which produced the ranking, says in a statement: ‘With the new Trump administration incoming, it remains to be seen what steps the US will take to stop the downgrade of its once-great passport.’

However, America remains more powerful than China, whose passport ranks at 110 in the power index.

South Korea is the strongest in Asia, despite falling from 17th to 21st, compared to last year’s ranking. Japan (25th) and Singapore (30th) are the next most powerful Asian passports.

Hrant Boghossian, co-founder of the ranking, says: ‘The World Openness Score remained flat this year – the post-Covid recovery jump we noticed in the past few years is truly over.

‘Unsurprisingly, European passports are overwhelmingly the best ranked, ahead of larger economies like the United States and China. Nearly all countries in the Balkans experienced growth in their mobility this year, a positive trend in the region we hope will continue.

‘Geopolitical factors including elections and conflicts continue to influence global mobility. Despite this, we are still seeing countries collaborate and governments recognise the opportunities that visa-free agreements represent.’

Top 20 Passports

1 . UAE (most powerful)

2. Spain 

3. Finland

4. France

5. Germany 

6. Belgium 

7. Italy 

8. Denmark 

9. Netherlands

10. Luxembourg 

11. Austria

12. Portugal 

13. Norway 

14. Switzerland 

15. Greece

16. Ireland 

17. Sweden 

18. Poland

19. Hungary 

20. Czech Republic

Bottom 10 Passports

1.  Syria (least powerful)

2. Afghanistan 

3. Iraq

4. Somalia

5. Pakistan 

6. Yemen 

7. Bangladesh 

8. Palestinian Territories

9. Libya 

10. North Korea