UAE passport is now the fourth most powerful in the world

The Emirates is the leading passport in the Gulf region with a score of 162 in Arton Capital’s updated Passport Index, and above countries such as New Zealand and Australia

PASSPORT INDEX: The UAE's climb to the top of the Passport Index was fifth. Philip Cheung / The National

The UAE passport is now one of the most powerful in the world, according to a new ranking.

Arton Capital’s updated Passport Index rates the Emirates as the leading passport in the region, with a score of 162, giving it a passport power-ranking category of four.

The index splits the ranking by category, and there are several passports in each.

The financial advisory firm, specialising in assisting those seeking second residencies, ranks national passports by the cross-border access they bring.

It assigns a “visa-free score”, according to the number of countries a passport holder can visit visa-free or with a visa on arrival.

The UAE’s ranking places it in the same league as countries such as Czech Republic and Hungary and above Iceland, New Zealand and Australia, which all have a passport power rank of six in the index.

UAE nationals now receive visa-free travel to 113 countries and can obtain visas on arrival in a further 49.

Only 36 countries require Emiratis to apply for a visa in advance.

Citizens of Germany and Singapore own the world’s most powerful passport, according to the Passport Index, with visa-free travel to 127 countries, visas on arrival in 38 countries and visas required for a further 33 countries.

This year, UAE citizens have gained visa-free access to several countries including Ireland, Canada and China.

The UAE passport climbed from 38th place up to 21st place in a separate index earlier this month. The 2018 Henley Passport Index also lists the world's passports according to how many countries their holders can gain visa-free access to.

On this index, the UAE sits on par with Barbados and above Mexico, the Bahamas and Uruguay. It has risen from 62nd place since 2006.

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Read more:

UAE passport surges up global rankings of 'most powerful'

Emiratis get visa-free travel to Ireland

Emiratis to enjoy visa-free travel to Canada

Visa-free travel to China for UAE nationals begins

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