Revealed: World’s best and worst passports for travel

The UAE passport ranks 16th in the latest Henley Passport Index, which periodically ranks passports on the the level of travel access they offer.

The UAE passport has soared 49 places over the past decade to sit in the 16th position amid the 2021 rankings, up two spots from 18 last year, and currently offers visa-free access to 173 destinations worldwide.

The index, which is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranks the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.

The rankings also come at a time when the travel industry has arguably been the worst hit globally amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Japan, Singapore and Germany own the top three spots in the 2021 ranking of the Henley Passport Index, offering visa-free access to 191, 190 and 189 destinations globally.

Within the GCC, Kuwait and Qatar occupy the 55th and 56th slots, offering visa-free travel access to 96 and 95 countries respectively. Bahrain and Oman rank 64th and 65th respectively, followed by Saudi Arabia a spot lower.

World’s most powerful passports in 2021 rankings

(Score reveals the number of countries that citizens have visa-free access to)

1. Japan
Score: 191

2. Singapore
Score: 190

3. Germany
Score: 189

4. Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain
Score: 188

5. Denmark, Austria 
Score: 187

6. Sweden, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Ireland 
Score: 186

7. Belgium, Norway, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States 
Score: 185

8. Australia, Czech Republic, Greece, Malta 
Score: 184

9. Canada
Score: 183

10. Hungary
Score: 182

World’s least powerful passports in 2021 rankings

1. Afghanistan 
Score: 26

2. Iraq 
Score: 28

3. Syria
Score: 29

4. Pakistan
Score: 32

5. Yemen, Somalia 
Score: 33

6. Palestinian Territory 
Score: 37

7. Nepal, Libya 
Score: 38

8. North Korea 
Score: 39

9. Sudan, Lebanon, Kosovo
Score: 40

10. Bangladesh, Iran 
Score: 41