Passport
United Arab Emirates: passport 2026 and visa-free countries
Passport: United Arab Emirates. 189 countries and territories without a prior visa, rank 2 of 199. Entry terms and length of stay for every destination as of 4 October 2026.
Destinations by entry terms, 226 in total
- 142Visa-free
- 12ETA
- 35On arrival
- 21eVisa
- 16Visa required
Passport strength
One of the strongest passports in the world 2
Rank 2 of 199. 189 of 226 destinations without a prior visa. Key countries this passport opens without a visa: 18.
Weak spots
Where a visa is needed and what is weaker 37
A prior visa is needed for 37 destinations, electronic or consular. Below are the main ones and the criteria where the passport is weaker. A second passport closes these gaps.
What the passport gives
What a United Arab Emirates passport gives
rank 35 of 199
Balanced index: all criteria weighted equally. Open sources, licences and method on the index page.
Ranking for your goal →- Mobility98189 destinations without a prior visa
- Stability and rule of law77score 0.91 on a -2.5 to 2.5 scale
- Quality of life95HDI 0.940
- Health and longevity8982.9 years life expectancy
- Education86education index 0.87
- Taxes100up to 0%, no inheritance tax, foreign income not taxed
- US access0no E-2, visa required
- Plan B and family50dual citizenship restricted, passes to children
All destinations
Destinations by entry terms 226
The score adds up the first three types: destinations you can travel to without a visa arranged in advance.
Visa-free 142
Entry on your passport
ETA 12
Authorisation online before travel
On arrival 35
Visa issued at the border
eVisa 21
Applied for online before travel
Visa required 16
Through a consulate
How to strengthen the passport
A second citizenship opens the countries where this passport needs a visa. We count the better of the two passports.
+18
Austria
Europe · new destinations
+10
St. Kitts and Nevis
Caribbean · new destinations
+9
Dominica
Caribbean · new destinations
+9
St. Lucia
Caribbean · new destinations
+9
Nauru
Oceania · new destinations
+8
Antigua and Barbuda
Caribbean · new destinations
Nearby in the ranking
- 1
Singapore193
- 2
United Arab Emirates189
- 3
Japan188
- 4
South Korea187
- 5
Sweden186
- 6
Germany185
Frequently asked questions
United Arab Emirates: how many countries are visa-free?
In the BRIDGES index as of 4 October 2026: 189 of 226 countries and territories, 142 visa-free, 12 with an ETA and 35 with a visa on arrival. That is rank 2 of 199.
United Arab Emirates: is a Schengen visa needed?
No. Short trips to Schengen countries need no visa, up to 90 days. Once ETIAS starts, an electronic authorisation will be needed; no launch date has been announced yet.
United Arab Emirates → United Kingdom: is a visa needed?
ETA, 180 days. Authorisation online before travel.
United Arab Emirates → United States: is a visa needed?
Visa required. Through a consulate.
How can the list of countries be expanded?
A second citizenship. For example, a passport of Austria adds 18 destinations without a prior visa, St. Kitts and Nevis adds 10. We will match a programme to your travel and budget.