UAE tops regional list for visa-free entry to countries

Financial advisory firm ranks document the most powerful in the region with Emiratis allowed to visit 72 countries visa free.

Fadi Saade, 30, a Lebanese resident of Dubai, says “This passport power index ranking is the reason why most Lebanese have secondary passports." Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

ABU DHABI // The UAE has the highest-ranked passport in the region, an international index on the most powerful passports has revealed.

The annual ranking by financial advisory firm Arton Capitol ranked passports in terms of the number of countries its citizens could travel to with ease. Not only did the Emirati passport come top in the region, it came 47th in the world.

The index was based on whether citizens could enter a country without a visa or whether they had to obtain one on arrival or beforehand.

Emirati passport holders can access 72 countries without the need for a visa.

The US and UK passports were ranked joint most powerful in the world and holders could access 147 countries visa-free. Tied for second place were France, Germany and South Korea, with access to 145 countries.

Qatar was second out of GCC countries, ranked 52nd with access to 66 countries, while Kuwait came third at 54th with access to 64 countries. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain were ranked joint 57th with access to 61 countries.

Emiratis were pleased with the ranking.

Abdullah Al Zaabi, 36, said: “The UAE has good relationships with the international community and the ranking reflects that.

“There was a period of hiccups with travel post 9/11. There were many restrictions at the time but so much progress has been made in the last decade or so in terms of stability and security. We soon will be able to go to the EU without a visa anymore. We have come a long way.”

Lebanon was tied at number 73 with North Korea, Cambodia and Gabon.

Fadi Saade, 30, a Lebanese resident of Dubai, said: “This passport power index ranking is the reason why most Lebanese have secondary passports.

“Nevertheless, I would still love to some day see the Lebanese actually having just one passport and other countries envying us for carrying it.”

Lebanon’s ranking made it one of the worst passports to have for travel due to the need to apply for visas to visit so many countries.

“This is a huge issue for us. It is embarrassing that with all this education we have, success in the world, civilisation that we were built upon and being one of the most liberal countries in the region, we are still ‘being considered’ before visiting another country,” Mr Saade said. “Mainly, I blame the politics in our country. What really bothers me is the fact that I have to pre-plan every single trip I need to do.

“Whether it is for business or tourism, the hassle of actually preparing the documents, applying at the centre, waiting from two to 14 days for the results while keeping my passport within the centre is altogether annoying and makes you think twice before deciding to visit another country.

“Even to Arab countries we need a visa to visit, while it is not true vice-versa.”

The UAE ranking was boosted by the European Parliament’s decision to allow visa-free travel to EU countries for UAE citizens. The UAE is the first Arab country to enjoy a visa waiver to the 26 Schengen countries, which make up the bulk of Europe.

The United Kingdom granted visa-free travel for Emiratis in November 2013.

The Palestinian Territories and South Sudan were joint bottom of the list, with visa-free access to just 28 countries.