The UAE passport is ranked the most “powerful” in 2026 passport access rankings, with holders able to reach 182 destinations without needing a traditional visa in advance. The Passport Index figures cited across outlets break this into 138 visa-free destinations and 44 where visas can be obtained on arrival.
Other reporting places the UAE ahead of Singapore and Malaysia, which share the second spot, while Spain ranks third. Several European countries appear in the upper tiers, and Japan, South Korea, Poland and Malta are among the top-five names listed. One outlet also notes that the United States falls to around the 10th position in the same 2026 ranking.
Alongside the access numbers, PravdaReport highlights a contrast between travel privileges and citizenship. It says that even long-term residents and people born in the UAE do not automatically receive Emirati citizenship, and that naturalisation is possible only under stringent requirements and through government discretion. The outlet also notes that citizenship for children in mixed-parentage situations can be complex.
