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UAE climbs up passport rankings, now 7th most powerful

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UAE climbs up passport rankings, now 7th most powerful

Abu Dhabi - Now with visa-free or visa on arrival access to 159 countries.

By Lujein Farhat

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Published: Tue 23 Oct 2018, 3:40 PM

Last updated: Wed 24 Oct 2018, 9:09 AM

Nearly three weeks after making the leap to the 8th most powerful in the world, the UAE passport has risen yet again in the ranks to the 7th place.
Citizens of the UAE can now enter 159 countries worldwide without a visa or with visa on arrival.

The UAE's passport ranking score is 159 in the Passport Index, with UAE's citizens allowed to travel to 112 countries without a visa, and to 47 countries with visa on arrival.
39 countries still demand visa from UAE citizens.

Latest visa-agreement 

This comes on the heels of a diplomatic memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the UAE and Mexico on visa exemption. Citizens with regular passports of both countries have been allowed visa-free entry.
The agreement for visa-free entry between Mexico and UAE will come into effect on October 31.
Citizens can remain in either country for no longer than 180 consecutive days.  

Passport Index

The UAE is now tied for 7th place with Estonia, which also scored 159. 

As it stands, the UAE is only six spots away from making it to the first place. Singapore holds court at an index score of 165 countries: 127 visa-free countries, 38 countries with visa on arrival. Singaporean citizens still need a visa to enter 33 countries.  
Dr Anwar Gargash, the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, had tweeted on September 13: "Good morning to all my followers. The UAE passport has just been ranked as the 9th most powerful passport with visa-free entry to 157 countries worldwide."

Meteoric rise to the top

No other country has seen such meteoric advancement in its rankings in such a short time frame. 
The UAE remains the most powerful passport in the region, beating out all other Arab or GCC countries in the race to the top.   
"The UAE's dedication and vision has given it a solid foundation upon which to build its future," according to a Passport Index report.   
"Its unparalleled advancement is due to progress in technological, educational, investment and infrastructure realms."
In 2017, the UAE had announced a daring goal of positioning the country's passport on the list of the five most important passports in the world by 2021.


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