The UAE passport leads Arton Capital’s Passport Index for 2026, with a mobility score of 182 destinations. For Emirati citizens, that means a broad choice of places accessible through visa-free entry, visas on arrival or qualifying electronic arrangements, giving the country the top position in this particular global ranking.
The number is a measure of easier border access, rather than a promise of identical entry rules everywhere. Travelers planning a holiday or business trip still need to check what their destination requires, especially where an online authorization must be completed before departure.
What the 182-Destination Score Includes
The index’s UAE dashboard lists 128 visa-free destinations, 44 offering visas on arrival and 10 under electronic travel authorization arrangements. Together, those categories produce the headline score of 182, with a further 16 destinations listed as requiring a visa.
That distinction matters when comparing a passport’s overall reach with the number of places someone can visit without an application. An electronic authorization can still involve a form, payment or processing time, while a visa on arrival involves a different procedure from simply presenting a passport at the border.
Under the index’s scoring rules, qualifying access includes visa-free travel, visas on arrival, electronic travel authorizations and simplified electronic visas issued within three days. More complex electronic visa applications fall into its visa-required category.
How the UAE Compares With Other Passports
Arton Capital’s current rankings give Singapore and Malaysia scores of 175, seven destinations behind the UAE, followed by Spain at 174. The United Kingdom has a score of 170 and the United States 167.
The rankings describe a changing picture. The provider updates its database as entry policies change, so a destination’s new visa exemption or application requirement can alter a passport’s score. A ranking is therefore most useful when read alongside its date and methodology.
We previously examined the UAE’s growing international reach in our passport coverage. The latest figures continue that story, rather than announcing a new blanket agreement opening 182 destinations at once.
Why Different Passport Rankings Give Different Results
The UAE’s No. 1 position here belongs specifically to Arton Capital’s Passport Index. Readers may encounter different totals or leaders in the separate Henley Passport Index, which uses a different destination universe and methodology.
Henley’s methodology covers 199 passports and 227 destinations, using IATA data supplemented by research. Its scoring includes visa-free entry, visas on arrival and electronic travel authorizations, while treating electronic visas differently from Arton’s qualifying fast-processing category. Scores from the two systems should therefore be compared within their own rankings.
What Travelers Should Check Before Booking
For an individual trip, start with the destination’s official entry guidance for the passport being used. Check the permitted length and purpose of the visit, any advance authorization, passport-validity requirements and transit conditions. A high mobility score does not remove the need to meet those rules.
The benefit also belongs to UAE passport holders. Living in Dubai or Abu Dhabi with a UAE residence permit does not automatically provide the same travel access; residents traveling on another country’s passport need to check their own eligibility.
Visa access and the airport experience are separate questions, too. Our reporting on contactless eGates shows how border technology can change the arrival process for eligible travelers. For Emirati passport holders, the practical advantage of the latest ranking remains a wider range of trips with fewer conventional visa applications to organize.
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