In a new historic achievement, the UAE passport has become the strongest passport and now ranked first globally.
The exceptional achievement on 1st December, 2018, coincides with the ‘Year of Zayed’ and country’s 47th National Day, and is added to country’s numerous accomplishments in various domains.
The UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has surpassed all expectations after accomplishing this achievement.
This success was achieved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation under the leadership of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
In his remarks on the occasion, Sheikh Abdullah said, “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.”
The UAE passport was ranked first by Passport Index, an interactive online tool that provides users with insights on passports with the ability to compare and rank the world’s passports. The ranking is based on freedom of movement and visa-free travel to passport holders.
The UAE passport holder can travel to 167 countries without the need for pre-visa requirements, which is 84 per cent of the number of countries listed in the index.
The UAE passport was on 27th position in December 2016, and now has attained first place globally in December 2018.
This achievement mirrors the county’s civilised face, respect and appreciation at the regional and international levels. It is supported by a wise policy and leadership that has been working hard to build the country’s bright image abroad to make it a hub for wisdom, moderation, coexistence and peace.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation launched the UAE Passport Force initiative to place the Emirati passport on the list of the five most powerful passports in the world by 2021, however, the country has achieved this goal three years before the dateline.
In line with a comprehensive vision of the development of the country and society, the UAE has a future agenda that embraces innovation, empowering the community and encouraging international cooperation and participation. These principles have been an integral part of the UAE since its establishment in 1971.
