UAE Passport Is The ‘most powerful’ In Middle East
Following a Visa-waiver agreement with EU, Emirati citizens can now travel to 113 countries without a Visa
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport has been named the ‘most powerful’ of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries in a report by consultants Henley & Partners.
Emirati citizens face the fewest travel restrictions out of the MENA restriction following a Visa-waiver agreement with the European Union earlier this year.
According to the Visa Restrictions Index, published by the Dubai-based firm, Emirati citizens may now travel to a total of 113 countries visa-free after 36 EU states were added in May.
The UAE has also become the 1st Arab nation to be given an EU Visa-waiver.
The annual report has now given the UAE an improvement in rank from 55 to 40, making the country 1 of 22 to have risen in the rankings since last year.
Marco Gantenbein said, “Europe, the US and Canada, as the world’s economic powerhouses, continue to dominate the Top 10 as we anticipated.
“However, it’s the performance of the UAE which needs to be applauded for the implied improvement of its international relations, which is very much reflected in the improved ranking in the Henley & Partners Index.”
In the prior Visa Restriction Index report, published in January, the UAE moved up just 1 place in lieu of the Visa-waiver’s introduction.
While Germany and the UK retained their Top Spots from the last report, Finland, Sweden and the US have all dropped down to 2nd place.
Sierra Leone, which was blighted by the ebola virus for much of the previous year, saw the biggest drop, losing 24 places, while war-torn Syria fell 16 places.
The 4 worst passports in the world remain Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and Pakistan.
BEST PASSPORTS IN THE WORLD FOR TRAVEL
1. Germany, United Kingdom
Score: 173
2. USA, Sweden, Finland
Score: 172
3. Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway
Score: 171
4. Belgium, Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain
Score: 170
5. Austria, Ireland, Singapore, Switzerland
Score: 169
6. Australia
Score: 168
7. Greece, Malta
Score: 167
8. Iceland, Czech Republic
Score: 164
9. Malaysia, Hungary
Score: 163
10. Slovakia
Score: 162
By Eleanor Dickinson
Paul Ebeling, Editor
HeffX-LTN
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