UAE passport takes the title of most powerful in the world.

Recently, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) surpassed Singapore to take the top spot in the 2018 Passport Index ranking by global consulting firm Arton Capital. According to the index, passports from Middle Eastern countries scored 167 points. This means UAE citizens are visa-free to 113 countries and only need to apply for a visa on arrival in 54 countries.

Singapore and Germany ranked second with 166 points. Singaporean citizens enjoy visa-free access to 127 countries and only require a visa on arrival in 39. Following them are Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, South Korea, and the United States, tied for third place with 165 points.

According to the same statistics, Belgium, Austria, Japan, Greece, Portugal, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada ranked 4th with 164. The 5th position was held by the Czech Republic and Hungary, while Malta, Iceland, and Hungary shared the 6th spot.

Malaysia, Slovenia, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Latvia, and Australia all share the 7th position. Estonia follows in 8th place. Romania and Bulgaria are in 9th place. Cyprus and Liechtenstein are in 10th place.

Currently, Vietnam ranks 74th on the list, with 21 countries offering visa-free entry and 35 countries requiring visa-on-arrival.

Previously, Henley published its Passport Index with figures that differed from Arton Capital's Passport Index. Both Henley and Arton Capital's passport rankings are based on the number of countries a passport holder can visit without a visa. However, the difference lies in the fact that Arton Capital's ranking considers 193 UN member states and 6 territories. Territories that have been annexed by other countries are excluded.

Bao Khuyen