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UAE passport is world's most powerful once again: How to get a UAE passport
It's official. The United Arab Emirates has the most powerful passport in the world.
The UAE passport has topped the Arnot Capital Global Passport Power rankings in 2024. This is the fourth consecutive year that the UAE has claimed top spot.
So what exactly does it mean to be the most powerful passport in the world? Well, it means that Emiratis are able to travel visa-free to 133 countries, can claim visa-on-arrival in a further 47 nations and only need to arrange pre-approved visa in 18 countries.
UAE passport holders benefit from a Schengen visa waiver which allows visa-free travel to 26 European countries as well as visa-free travel to the five other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
The annual power ranking looks at how easy it is to travel between countries using each passport.
European countries make up the majority of the top 30 countries with Spain placing in second, Finland in third and France in fourth.
You have to get down to 21st position before you'll find another non-European country with South Korea placing highly, Japan is in 25th and New Zealand in 28th.
Passports of note for people living in Dubai include the UK in 32, the Philippines in joint 66th, India in joint 70th and Pakistan in joint 91st.
How to get a UAE passport
A UAE passport is not an easy one to get, however.
One of the ways you can get a UAE passport is by being a UAE citizen. Citizenship is only open to a select few non-nationals but it is possible to get a hold of.
Non-nationals who could get UAE citizenship can be:
Investors
Doctors and specialists
Inventors
Scientists
Intellectuals and individuals with creative talents
If you are a dependent wife of an Emirati citizen you may also qualify for a UAE passport.
And, finally, if you are a newborn baby (and what newborn baby isn't reading this?) of UAE citizens then you can also get a UAE passport.
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