The United Arab Emirates celebrated another monumental milestone in its history as its passport took the lead with a record-breaking score in the Global Passport Power Ranking.
According to The Passport Index, the interactive real-time ranking platform, the UAE passport now holds a visa-free score of 167, giving Emirati citizens access to over 84% of the world.
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 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 at the global stage.”
The Passport Index created by the Arton Capital, ranks passports based on the number of countries the holder can visit without first obtaining a visa or applying for one on entry.
Armand Arton, Founder and President of Arton Capital, said that The Passport Index is the most prominent rating of a passport’s power 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 regions of the UN members and work to collect data directly through publicly available information, government sources and international bodies,” said Arton.
As UAE citizens celebrate their passport’s glory, the country is also setting an example to other nations, both in the Arab World and beyond, that positive diplomacy can yield substantial results.