The UAE passport continues its climb to the top of the table, clinching the 18th spot among the world's most powerful passports, according to the Henley Passport Index Q4 Update.

The UAE passport also emerged as the most powerful in the GCC region, racing ahead of Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, with UAE passport holders able to access 171 countries without a prior visa.

Kuwait was ranked in 57th position with visa-free access to 95 destinations, Qatar came in 58th place (93 destinations), Bahrain was in 63rd position (82 locations), Oman came in at 64th position (79) and Saudi Arabia in 66th position (77).

Asian countries firmly established their lead on the Henley Passport Index, with Japan securing the top spot on the index for the third consecutive year, with Singapore holds onto its second-place position with a score of 190, while South Korea dropped down a rank to third place alongside Germany, giving their passport holders visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 189 destinations worldwide.

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept, says the latest ranking provides a fascinating insight into a rapidly changing world. “Asian countries’ dominance of the top spots is a clear argument for the benefits of open-door policies and the introduction of mutually beneficial trade agreements. Over the past few years, we have seen the world adapt to mobility as a permanent condition of global life. The latest rankings show that the countries that embrace this reality are thriving, with their citizens enjoying ever-increasing passport power and the array of benefits that come with it.”

While the latest results from the Henley Passport Index show that globally, people are more mobile than ever before, they also indicate a growing divide when it comes to travel freedom, with Japanese passport holders able to access 165 more destinations around the world than Afghan nationals (26 destinations), for example. Analysis of historical data from the index reveals that this extraordinary global mobility gap is the starkest it has been since the index’s inception in 2006. - TradeArabia News Service

Copyright 2019 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

Disclaimer: The content of this article is syndicated or provided to this website from an external third party provider. We are not responsible for, and do not control, such external websites, entities, applications or media publishers. The body of the text is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither we nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this article. Read our full disclaimer policy here.