UAE Passport Now Ranks 8th in the World for Travel Power
- Publish date: Friday، 25 July 2025 Reading time: 1 min read
From 42nd to 8th in a decade—here’s how the UAE passport just became one of the strongest in the world.
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The UAE passport has officially entered the big leagues, now ranked 8th most powerful globally in the 2025 Henley Passport Index. A decade ago, it was sitting at 42nd—but thanks to years of visa deals and smart diplomacy, it now offers visa-free access to 185 destinations.
That puts it ahead of the US, which slipped to 10th place—its lowest spot in 20 years.
The Only Middle Eastern Passport in the Top 10
The UAE is now the highest-ranking Middle Eastern country on the list—and the only one from the region to crack the global Top 10 in recent years. Henley & Partners credited the country's “strategic diplomacy” for this major leap.
Asia and the Gulf Are on the Rise
It’s not just the UAE making moves.
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Saudi Arabia jumped up 4 places, now ranked 54th with 91 visa-free destinations.
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China opened its borders to 75 countries, including all GCC nations.
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India is up 8 spots to 77th.
This shift shows how Asia and the Gulf are gaining more global mobility power, while traditional Western countries are losing ground.
US Passport Drops to 10th
While the UAE is rising, the US passport has taken a hit—now tied with Australia and Canada at 10th place. That’s 182 visa-free destinations, but still a drop compared to its former top-tier status.