The UAE passport ranks first in Arton Capital‘s 2026 Passport Index with a mobility score of 182. That puts it seven points ahead of Singapore and Malaysia, who share second place on 175, and the index credits the UAE with the top spot since 2018. The score counts destinations Emirati citizens can enter visa-free, with a visa on arrival or with an electronic authorisation. It does not mean 182 borders with no paperwork.
How the UAE reaches 182
| Type of access | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Visa-free | 138 |
| Visa on arrival or electronic authorisation | 44 |
| Mobility score | 182 |
| Visa required in advance (not counted) | 16 |
Where do other passports rank?
| Rank | Passports | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Arab Emirates | 182 |
| 2 | Singapore, Malaysia | 175 |
| 3 | Spain | 174 |
| 4 | Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and others | 173 |
| 5 | South Korea, Poland, Hungary and others | 172 |
| 7 | United Kingdom, Cyprus | 170 |
| 8 | Canada, Liechtenstein, New Zealand | 169 |
| 9 | Australia, Iceland | 168 |
| 10 | United States | 167 |
Why indexes disagree
Arton Capital counts visa-free entry, visa on arrival, electronic travel authorisations and electronic visas issued within three days. It counts destinations, not only sovereign states, and ordinary visas arranged in advance do not count. The Henley Passport Index uses a different destination universe and scoring framework, so the order changes.
| Point | Arton Capital | Henley Passport Index |
|---|---|---|
| UAE position | First, score 182 | Joint second with Japan and South Korea, 188 destinations each |
| Leader | UAE | Singapore |
| What counts | Visa-free, visa on arrival, electronic authorisations and quick e-visas | Henley’s own scoring of visa-free access |
Neither list is an official government or treaty classification. Both are commercial assessments built on entry rules that can change, so a headline rank is a snapshot rather than a guarantee.
What the score means at the border
| Access type | What you still need to check |
|---|---|
| Visa-free | Passport validity rules, a return or onward ticket and the permitted length of stay. |
| Visa on arrival | Fee, accepted payment methods and any required documents at the airport. |
| Electronic authorisation | An online approval before you fly. Rules and start dates can change, as with the planned European system in our ETIAS update. |
Hypothetical example: an Emirati traveller plans three trips in a year. One country is visa-free, one gives a visa on arrival and one needs an electronic authorisation. All three count towards the 182, but the traveller still has to check passport validity, the length of stay and the application step for each one before booking. Visa-free rules also change, as in the shorter visa-free stay explained in our Thailand update.
Does this apply to UAE residents?
No. The ranking measures the UAE passport held by citizens. Residents who hold another nationality travel on their own passport and follow the entry rules for that nationality, so check the requirements for the passport you carry. Residents flying home through Dubai can read how the three fast lanes work in our guide to Smart Gates, Red Carpet and Click and Travel, and what to declare in the iDeclare guide. For the earlier write-up of the same index, see UAE Passport Ranked World’s Strongest.
Related guides
- UAE Emergency Number Day: When to Call 999 or 901
- DXB Security Scanners: What to Expect With Liquids, Laptops and Shoes
- Visa-Free and Visa-on-Arrival Countries for UAE Residents
- Not Eligible for Smart Gates at DXB? What to Do Instead
- Dubai Airport Smart Gates Eligibility Pre-Check: How to Use It Before Immigration
