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Middle East

United Arab Emirates Passport

Ranked #2 Globally

In 2026, the United Arab Emirates () passport sits in second place worldwide, behind only Singapore. Its holders can reach 187 destinations with no visa at all or with a quick visa-on-arrival. That list includes the full (the borderless travel zone covering most of Europe), the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and mainland China. This is the largest climb in the index's history: the UAE has added 149 destinations since 2006. The passport is issued by the (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security). One point matters before you read on. UAE citizenship is not for sale and has no ordinary route. Since a 2021 change to the nationality law, only the Cabinet, a Ruler's Court, or an Emirate Executive Council can grant it, and only to nominated investors and rare talents. Most people who move to the UAE hold a residence visa, not a passport.

2nd
Global Ranking
187
Destinations
81
Mobility Score
United Arab Emirates Passport - Passport Power 8th | worldpath.ai WRI

United Arab Emirates Passport Global Mobility Context

The passport rose faster than any other in the last two decades. In 2012 it sat outside the top 60; by 2026 it reached second place worldwide. The turning point came in May 2015, when the (European Union, a 27-country bloc) waived short-stay visas for Emiratis. That single deal opened the borderless Schengen zone and lifted the document into the top tier.

Reach is the core strength. Emiratis travel without a prior visa to most major economies, including the full , the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and mainland China. They also move freely across the Gulf Cooperation Council (), the six-country bloc of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the UAE.

The UAE backs the document with active diplomacy, signing new visa-waiver deals year after year, which is why the destination count keeps climbing. The country rarely appears on political risk lists, so border officers tend to clear Emirati travellers quickly.

The booklet itself is modern. The UAE has issued biometric ePassports since December 2011, with a second-generation redesign in September 2022. The contactless chip follows the (International Civil Aviation Organization) 9303 standard, which airports use to read passport chips at e-gates. Each data page is printed in Arabic and English.

You can acquire the UAE's citizenship only through the Rulers' and Crown Princes' Courts, Offices of the Executive Councils and the Cabinet based on the nominations of federal entities.

On This Page

United Arab Emirates Passport at a Glance

Global rank (2026)

#2 across major passport indices, tied with Japan and South Korea; only Singapore ranks higher

Visa-free destinations

187 destinations, including the full , the UK, Japan, South Korea, and mainland China

Document type

Biometric ePassport with a contactless chip, compliant with the international 9303 standard since 2011

Page count

62 pages in the current second-generation biometric booklet, launched in September 2022

Languages

Arabic and English, printed together on the personal data page

Adult validity

10 years for holders aged 21 and over; the standard option for adults

Child validity (under 16)

5 years for applicants under the age of 21, so younger holders renew more often

Dual citizenship

Allowed since 2021 for the few granted citizenship by nomination; they keep their original nationality

Issuing authority

Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security ()

History

First passports issued in 1971 at federation; biometric chip added in 2011; redesigned in 2022

United Arab Emirates Passport Visa-Free Destinations by Region

Regional Mobility

Economic Mobility Score: 81%Country GDP: 0.537%
Visa Exceptions
Europe and the Gulf are the strongest regions for UAE passport holders. The main gap is North America: the United States and Canada both require a visa in advance. Some destinations elsewhere require an e-visa or visa-on-arrival.

Popular Destinations at a Glance

The table below shows how a few headline destinations treat an Emirati traveller. Stay limits are for tourism or short business visits and reset on each entry unless noted.

Americas

Coverage here is uneven, and this is where the passport shows its main gap. The United States requires Emiratis to obtain a visa in advance: the UAE is not in the Visa Waiver Program (, the scheme that lets some nationalities skip a US visa for short trips), so there is no (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) option. Most travellers apply for a visitor visa at the US embassy in Abu Dhabi or the consulate in Dubai. Canada also asks for a visa. Further south the picture improves: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and most of Central America and the Caribbean grant visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to Emiratis.

Europe

Europe is the strongest region for this passport. Emiratis enter the entire without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day window. That covers France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal, the Nordic states, and the newer members Croatia, Bulgaria, and Romania. The visa waiver took effect on 7 May 2015 and is what launched the passport's rise.

Outside the Schengen zone, the United Kingdom and Ireland admit Emiratis without a visa for short stays. The non-Schengen Balkan states, including Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, are also open. One caution for the future: the plans a short online pre-screening called (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) for visa-free visitors, expected to phase in from late 2026. It is a quick form, not a visa, and will apply to Emiratis once live.

Asia-Pacific

Asia is wide open for Emiratis. Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand all grant visa-free entry. Mainland China lifted visa requirements for UAE passport holders on 16 January 2018 under a mutual deal, allowing stays of up to 30 days. This was years before most Western passports gained the same access, and it reflects close UAE-China trade ties.

In the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand are the two destinations that still need paperwork: each uses a short online travel authorisation tied to the passport, approved before departure. Across the rest of South and Southeast Asia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Philippines offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry, making the region almost friction-free for a holder flying east from Dubai.

Middle East

This is home ground. Within the Gulf Cooperation Council (), Emiratis enjoy full freedom of movement across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman. They can enter on a national ID card alone, with no passport stamp and no time limit on short visits. Beyond the Gulf, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Morocco grant visa-free or visa-on-arrival access, while a few states such as Iran still require a visa arranged in advance.

Africa

More than 60 African countries open their doors to Emiratis through visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival, or a quick electronic visa. Common short-stay choices include Morocco, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. A cluster of states in Central and North Africa, among them Libya, Sudan, and Eritrea, still ask for a visa obtained beforehand, often with extra security checks.

Offshore Jurisdictions

Emiratis reach most of the offshore and financial-centre territories that matter to globally mobile holders. The Maldives and the Seychelles, both wealth-management and tourism hubs, grant easy entry. Mauritius admits Emiratis visa-free for short stays. Hong Kong, a major Asian financial centre, is visa-free for up to 30 days. These hubs sit close to the UAE's own role as a Gulf banking and trade base, so they see heavy two-way travel.

Where a Visa Is Still Required

  • United States: a B1/B2 visa is required; the UAE is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so no ESTA is available.
  • Canada: a visitor visa must be obtained before travel.
  • Australia and New Zealand: a short online travel authorisation is required before departure.
  • Iran, Libya, Sudan, and several Central African states: a full visa is required, sometimes with extra checks.

How to Get a United Arab Emirates Passport

1

Secure Long-Term Residence

There is no ordinary route to a passport, so the realistic first step is long-term residence, not citizenship. The main vehicle is the Golden Visa, a renewable residence permit that runs 5 or 10 years and needs no local sponsor.

Property investors qualify for a 10-year Golden Visa by owning UAE real estate worth at least 2 million (USD 545,000). Since February 2026, there is no minimum down-payment rule, and mortgaged or off-plan property from approved developers counts toward the threshold. Several properties can be combined to reach it.

Other categories also qualify without buying property. These include company founders, specialists in fields such as medicine, science, and engineering, top students and graduates, and, under 2025-2026 additions, educators, experienced nurses, and content creators. A Golden Visa lets you live in the UAE and pay zero personal income tax, but it does not, on its own, lead to a passport.

Residence is the destination for most people who move to the UAE. Citizenship, covered in the next steps, is a separate and far narrower track that residence does not unlock automatically.

2

Build a Record of Contribution

Citizenship in the is earned by standing out, not by counting years. Since the 2021 amendment to the nationality law, the government can naturalise a small set of people who add clear value to the country.

Six groups are named in the law: investors who own property, doctors and specialists with long experience, scientists and active researchers, inventors, creative talents such as artists and authors, and the spouses and children of anyone naturalised this way. Children of an Emirati mother and a foreign father can also apply.

In practice this step means building a verifiable record in one of those fields, usually over years, that a senior UAE body would consider worth a nomination. There is no published points table and no fixed sum that guarantees citizenship. The bar is high and the numbers granted each year are small.

3

Receive a Government Nomination

Unlike most countries, the has no citizenship application form an ordinary person can file. The official portal states that citizenship comes only through the Rulers' and Crown Princes' Courts, the Offices of the Executive Councils, and the federal Cabinet, acting on nominations from government entities.

So the route runs through nomination, not application. A federal ministry, an Emirate authority, or a Ruler's Court puts a candidate's name forward, and the relevant body decides. A nominated citizen takes an oath of allegiance and agrees to abide by UAE law.

A key change from the past: those naturalised under the 2021 rules may keep their original nationality. Dual citizenship, once banned, is now permitted for this nominated group. The naturalised person must inform the authorities if they later gain or lose another citizenship.

4

Apply for the Passport

Once citizenship is granted, the passport itself is the final, routine step. The (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) issues it to nationals.

A new citizen registers their nationality, obtains an Emirates ID (the national identity card), and then applies for the passport through the ICA, online or at a service centre. The booklet is the current second-generation biometric ePassport, valid 10 years for adults aged 21 and over and 5 years for younger holders.

Because nationality is the hard part, holders rarely think about the passport step. The document carries a contactless chip read at e-gates worldwide and is printed in Arabic and English. Renewal later in life follows the same straightforward process.

Comparison of United Arab Emirates Passport With Other Top Passports

Passport

Rank

Visa-free

Key edge

Singapore Passport

#1

192

Top-ranked passport; Asia mobility peer

Switzerland/Monaco Passports

#4

185

Low-tax wealth hubs with strong passports

France/Italy Passports

#4

185

EU passports — live and work in 27 states

United States Passport

#10

179

Largest economy; worldwide citizenship taxation

Ranks reflect 2026 global passport indices; visa-free counts are cross-checked against public records. The is unusual: a strong travel document paired with zero personal income tax, but citizenship almost impossible to obtain by an ordinary route.

UAE vs Singapore. Singapore holds the top spot at 192 destinations, five more than the UAE's 187. The travel gap is small, but the routes differ: Singapore is reached through residence and naturalisation; UAE citizenship needs a government nomination.

UAE vs Switzerland and Monaco. Switzerland and Monaco are the closest peers on the wealth-and-mobility axis, each pairing a strong passport with low personal taxes. Switzerland reaches about 185 destinations and Monaco around 176, near the UAE's 187. Both offer residence-then-citizenship over years, while the UAE limits it to nominated talents and investors.

UAE vs France and Italy. A French or Italian passport grants the right to live and work across the 27 states of the (European Union), which the UAE cannot. France and Italy reach about 185 destinations. But their passports are a labour-market key for a continent, while the UAE document is tied to one country, offset by its zero-tax advantage.

UAE vs the United States. The contrast is tax. The United States taxes its citizens on worldwide income for life; the UAE levies no personal income tax on citizens at all, home or abroad. An American abroad still files US tax yearly; an Emirati does not. The US reaches about 179 destinations, fewer than the UAE's 187.

Pros and Cons of the United Arab Emirates Passport

Pros7 strengths
Cons7 frictions
  • 01Mobility
    Second-Strongest Travel Document Worldwide
    Visa-free or visa-on-arrival in 187 destinations, behind only Singapore. Covers the full Schengen Area, the UK, Japan, South Korea, and mainland China.
    187 dest.
  • 02Tax
    No Personal Income Tax for Citizens
    The UAE charges no personal income tax on salaries, freelance income, or investment income, for citizens and residents alike, at home or abroad.
    0% tax
  • 03Standing
    Largest Passport Climb in Index History
    The UAE has added 149 visa-free destinations since 2006, the biggest gain ever recorded, rising from outside the top 60 to second place worldwide.
    Fastest rise
  • 04Rights
    Free Movement Across the Gulf
    Citizens can live, work, and travel across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman using a national ID card, with no visa or work permit.
    GCC free
  • 05Eligibility
    10-Year Renewable Residence Without Citizenship
    The Golden Visa grants 5 or 10 years of sponsor-free residence to investors, founders, and skilled professionals, with the same zero-tax benefit.
    Golden Visa
  • 06Rights
    Nominated Citizens Keep Their Old Passport
    Since 2021, people naturalised by government nomination may retain their original nationality. Dual citizenship, once banned, is now allowed for this group.
    Dual OK
  • 07Document
    Biometric Chip Compliant With ICAO 9303
    Every UAE passport since 2011 carries a contactless chip read at e-gates worldwide. The 2022 redesign added security features. Printed in Arabic and English.
    ePassport
  • 01Eligibility
    No Ordinary Route to Citizenship
    Citizenship comes only through a Cabinet, Ruler's Court, or Executive Council nomination of select investors and talents. There is no standard application an ordinary person can file.
    By nomination
  • 02Eligibility
    Residence Does Not Lead to Citizenship
    A Golden Visa lets you live in the UAE for years, but it grants no automatic path to a passport. The two tracks are separate, and residence is the realistic goal for most.
    Not a passport
  • 03Mobility
    United States Requires a Visa
    The UAE is not in the US Visa Waiver Program, so Emiratis cannot use an ESTA. A B1/B2 visa must be obtained from a US embassy or consulate before travel.
    US visa
  • 04Descent
    Being Born in the UAE Grants No Citizenship
    The UAE does not give citizenship by place of birth. A child born on UAE soil to foreign parents is not a citizen; nationality passes mainly through an Emirati father.
    No birthright
  • 05Descent
    Citizenship Passes Mainly by Paternal Descent
    Nationality is granted chiefly through an Emirati father. Children of an Emirati mother and a foreign father can apply, but the default line of descent is paternal.
    By father
  • 06Mobility
    Canada Also Requires a Visitor Visa
    Beyond the US, Canada too asks Emiratis for a visa before travel, leaving North America the weakest region for an otherwise far-reaching passport.
    Canada visa
  • 07Standing
    Very Few People Are Naturalised Each Year
    The nomination system is deliberately selective, aimed at long-term national development. The number of foreigners granted citizenship in any year stays small.
    Small intake

Dual Citizenship and the United Arab Emirates Passport

The 's position on holding two passports changed sharply in 2021. For decades the country did not allow it. An amendment to the nationality law that year opened dual citizenship to a narrow group: people the government naturalises by nomination, such as investors and rare talents. They may keep their original nationality while becoming Emirati.

This is the opposite of how most countries work. Elsewhere, naturalisation is open and dual citizenship may or may not be allowed. In the UAE, dual citizenship is allowed, but only because the door to citizenship itself is so narrow. The two facts are linked: the country grants nationality rarely, so it can afford to let those few keep a second passport.

One duty comes with it. A naturalised Emirati must tell the authorities if they later acquire or lose another nationality. The rule lets the government keep track of who holds what. There is no annual filing or tax disclosure attached, because the UAE levies no personal income tax in the first place.

For the ordinary foreign resident, none of this is reachable through normal channels. A Golden Visa holder cannot convert years of residence into a passport. Dual citizenship in the UAE is a benefit for the nominated few, not a route the general public can plan around.

Bottom Line on the United Arab Emirates Passport

The UAE passport is the strongest travel document any Arab-majority state offers, and the second strongest in the world. It opens 187 destinations, including the full , the UK, Japan, South Korea, and mainland China, and pairs that reach with zero personal income tax for its citizens. For mobility and money, few passports match it.

The catch is the route. There is no ordinary path to UAE citizenship. The government grants it by nomination to a small set of investors, scientists, doctors, inventors, and creative talents, through a Ruler's Court, an Executive Council, or the Cabinet. Being born in the UAE confers nothing, and years of residence do not convert into a passport.

For almost everyone who moves to the UAE, the realistic prize is long-term residence, not the passport. The Golden Visa delivers the day-to-day benefits, sponsor-free living, zero tax, safety, and global mobility as a resident, while you keep your existing passport. It is the strategic choice for most internationally mobile families.

The passport itself is best understood as a reward the UAE reserves for rare contribution, not a product on the market. For the few who are nominated, it is one of the most powerful upgrades available anywhere: 187-destination travel, Gulf free movement, and a tax-free base. For everyone else, the UAE's value lies in living there, not in carrying its passport.

United Arab Emirates Passport FAQ

What is the UAE passport's WRI score for 2026?

The UAE passport ranks second globally on the WorldPath Relocation Index 2026, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 187 destinations — tied with Japan and South Korea, behind only Singapore at 192. The UAE holds the strongest passport in the Arab world and has recorded the largest long-term climb in the Henley Passport Index history, adding 149 destinations since 2006 and rising from outside the top 60 to second place worldwide.

Which major countries can UAE passport holders visit without a visa?

Emirati passport holders enter the full Schengen Area (27 European countries) visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day window, plus the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brazil, and most of Latin America. The two significant gaps are North America — the United States requires a B1/B2 visa, and Canada requires a visitor visa — and a small cluster of states in Central Africa and Iran.

Do UAE passport holders need ETIAS to travel to Europe?

Not yet, but they will. ETIAS — the EU's digital pre-screening authorisation for visa-exempt visitors — is confirmed to launch in Q4 2026. It will not become mandatory until approximately six months after launch, around Q2 2027, following a transitional grace period. ETIAS is not a visa: it costs €7, takes minutes to complete online, and remains valid for three years. It does not alter Emirati visa-free status — it adds a pre-departure screening step only.

Can UAE passport holders live and work across the Gulf without a work permit?

Yes. Within the Gulf Cooperation Council — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman — Emirati citizens enjoy full freedom of movement. They can enter, live, and work across all five member states using a national ID card alone, with no visa, no work permit, and no time limit on short stays. This GCC free-movement right is one of the most practical day-to-day advantages the UAE passport delivers beyond its global visa-free reach.

How does the UAE passport compare to Singapore and Switzerland?

Singapore leads globally at 192 destinations — five more than the UAE's 187 — but is reached through a standard residence-then-naturalisation track, typically around ten years. Switzerland offers around 185 destinations and a legal naturalisation pathway after ten years of residence. The UAE matches neither on accessibility: citizenship requires a government nomination, not a residency track. The UAE's advantage over both is zero personal income tax for citizens, which Switzerland does not offer.

Is dual citizenship allowed with a UAE passport?

Yes, but only for a narrow group. Since a 2021 amendment to the nationality law, people naturalised by government nomination — selected investors, scientists, and exceptional talents — may retain their original nationality when granted UAE citizenship. For decades, dual citizenship was banned; the change is linked to the fact that UAE citizenship itself is so selective. For the vast majority of foreign residents, dual citizenship is irrelevant because there is no ordinary path to a UAE passport.

Is the UAE passport worth it for high-net-worth individuals?

For investors from weaker-passport countries — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and many African and Central Asian states — Emirati citizenship would be a transformative mobility upgrade, but the nomination-only path puts it out of reach for almost everyone. For those who already hold a strong EU, US, or UK passport, ordinary UAE citizenship is simply not available, so it is not a realistic goal. The strategically superior choice for most high-net-worth individuals is the UAE Golden Visa: it delivers zero personal income tax, world-class infrastructure, and GCC mobility as a resident, while you keep your existing passport — without needing UAE citizenship at all.

What is the realistic path to UAE residency for someone who cannot obtain UAE citizenship?

For almost everyone, long-term UAE residence — not citizenship — is the achievable goal. The Golden Visa grants 10-year, renewable, sponsor-free residence to property investors from AED 2,000,000 ($545,000), company founders, senior professionals earning above AED 30,000 per month in basic salary, scientists, outstanding graduates, and, since 2025–2026, educators and content creators. It delivers zero personal income tax, full family sponsorship, no minimum stay requirement, and access to one of the world's second-strongest passports as a resident travel document — your own.

Related Topics

Related Information

Verified by

Ahmed Al-Rashid
Head of Middle East Operations
at WorldPath AI

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