Certificate needs to be presented at check-in for inspection prior to flying from Abu Dhabi, says airline
With a total of 111 plus visa waivers mostly in the last three years, the UAE's travel document has the honour of being called the greatest passport of the decade by latest Passport Index report that measures the global mobility score of nations.
The UAE clinched the top rank with an outstanding 161 per cent increase in passport power and with a record-breaking 179 in mobility score, marking a meteoric rise in the country's diplomatic power.
Taiwan and Ukraine followed the UAE in second and third positions and island nations like Vanuatu and Timor Leste are among others who scored high, setting a new trend in global mobility, the report said.
"Since the inception of the Passport Force Initiative in 2017, the Passport Index closely followed and documented the progress of the UAE passport. As their goal to rise within the top 5 was achieved three years ahead of time, their momentum and mission grew stronger as they strived to reach 1st place before the end of 2018," said the report released by Passe/Port that reports and updates on global mobility trends every year.
"Triumphing and maintaining the lead for over a year to date, the UAE's meteoric rise became one of the most intriguing examples of a successfully accomplished national goal," the report added.
The UAE overtook Singapore and Germany to become the world's most powerful passport in December 2018. UAE passport holders last year could gain entry to 167 countries without obtaining a prior visa, including visa-free entry to 113 countries and visa on arrival in 54 countries.
"This achievement is a true reflection of the legacy of Sheikh Zayed, the founding father of the UAE. It also underscores what can be achieved through positive diplomacy, reflecting the UAE as a confident and engaged force at the global stage," Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said when the UAE rose to the top slot in December last year.
anjana@khaleejtimes.com
Certificate needs to be presented at check-in for inspection prior to flying from Abu Dhabi, says airline
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