MENA Newswire, ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates has risen to fifth place worldwide on the 2026 Henley Passport Index, its highest position to date on the annual ranking of global travel access. The index measures how many destinations citizens can enter without obtaining a visa in advance, counting visa free entry and visas issued on arrival. In the 2026 ranking, the UAE passport provides access to 184 destinations, placing it among the world’s top tier for international mobility.
Henley and Partners, which publishes the index, said the 2026 results draw on International Air Transport Association data and cover 199 passports and 227 travel destinations. The company updates the index monthly to reflect changes in entry rules. The UAE’s placement at fifth also makes it the highest ranked passport in the Middle East, reinforcing the country’s position as a regional leader in cross border travel access for its citizens.
The UAE’s latest standing follows a long rise in the rankings over two decades. Henley and Partners said the Emirati passport has recorded the strongest long term climb of any country on the index, gaining 57 places over that period. In 2006, Emirati passport holders had access to far fewer destinations than they do now; by 2026 the total stands at 184 destinations offering visa free entry or visas on arrival for short stays under destination specific rules.
In the global top ranks, Singapore retained the number one position in the 2026 index with access to 192 destinations. Japan and South Korea were tied for second place with access to 188 destinations. A group of European countries shared third place, including Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain and Sweden. The 2026 results also show multiple ties across the upper tier, reflecting how small changes in entry policies can shift countries in and out of shared ranks.
Global rankings and methodology
The Henley Passport Index assigns a score to each passport based on whether a prior visa is required for entry to each destination. If no visa is required, or if a traveler can obtain a visa on arrival, that destination counts toward the passport’s total. If a visa is needed before departure, the destination does not count toward the score. The index is based on IATA travel information and is supplemented by additional research to track policy updates and documentation requirements.
Henley’s January 2026 mobility report also highlighted a widening gap between the highest and lowest ranked passports. At the bottom of the index, Afghanistan again ranked last, with access to 24 destinations without a prior visa. The contrast between the top and bottom tiers underscores how entry rules shape travel opportunities, affecting personal travel, business trips, and international movement for work or study depending on a traveler’s nationality and destination requirements.
Middle East standing and comparative shifts
Within the Middle East, the UAE’s fifth place ranking sets it apart from its regional peers in the scope of visa free and visa on arrival access. In the 2026 index, the UAE’s fifth place position is shared with several European countries, including Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia, according to published rankings. The UAE’s placement ahead of several long established travel powers is a notable feature of this year’s table, reflecting changes in relative standing across regions.
For travelers and businesses, the index is often used as a reference point for gauging the administrative friction associated with cross border movement, though entry decisions ultimately remain with destination states and can include additional conditions beyond visa requirements. The 2026 ranking places the UAE alongside a small cluster of countries whose citizens can reach the majority of global destinations without applying for a visa ahead of travel, a benchmark that has become increasingly competitive at the top of the index.