UAE ranks eighth globally with visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to 184 locations, marking the strongest passport within the Arab and Islamic world.Qatar rises to forty seventh, pushed by its entry into the USVisa Waiver Program , a primary for any Arab nation, with entry to 112 locations.- Saudi Arabia reaches 54th, gaining visa-free entry to China, the UK, and Turkey, totaling 91 locations.
- Kuwait holds fiftieth place with entry to 100 locations, however sees restricted mobility development in 2025.
- Bahrain and Oman rank fifty fifth and 56th respectively, with entry to 90 and 88 locations, exhibiting modest year-on-year enhancements.
- All six GCC international locations gained visa-free entry to China in June 2025, enhancing regional passport energy.
Gulf Passport Energy: UAE Soars, Qatar Breaks By way of, Saudi Steadies
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has quickly reworked passport energy right into a instrument of soppy energy and diplomacy. The July 2025 Henley Passport Index ranks the UAE’s passport eighth globally, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to 184 international locations, a historic rise from simply 35 international locations a decade in the past, placing it near conventional leaders like Singapore and Japan and marking unmatched progress for the Center East. Different GCC states, like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have additionally boosted world mobility, reflecting deliberate investments in bilateral visa offers and citizenship reforms. Traditionally restricted by political and safety points, GCC passports now symbolize nationwide ambition and diplomatic flexibility, aligning with broader world traits towards mobility and interconnected economies. The area’s rise in passport energy underscores the GCC’s diplomatic clout and worldwide ambition.
UAE: Passport Powerhouse of the Arab World
On the high of the Gulf passport rankings stands the United Arab Emirates, now ranked eighth globally. Emirati residents take pleasure in visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to 184 international locations, surpassing historically dominant passports resembling these of the US and Canada. The UAE’s meteoric rise, from forty second place in 2015 to eighth in 2025, marks the most important leap within the two-decade historical past of the Henley Passport Index.This outstanding progress is pushed by an bold international coverage targeted on visa-waiver agreements with areas together with the European Union, China, Russia, and Latin America. The UAE is the one Center Jap nation within the world High 10, inserting it alongside established leaders like Canada, Estonia, and a number of other EU nations. Its passport is now the strongest in each the Arab world and the broader Islamic world.
Qatar: Strategic Breakthrough with america
Qatar’s passport has seen a major leap within the newest world rankings, rising to roughly forty seventh place. The important thing catalyst behind this surge? A landmark settlement that makes Qatar the primary Arab nation to be included within the US Visa Waiver Program, efficient December 2024. This settlement grants Qatari residents visa-free entry to america for stays of as much as 90 days, inserting Qatar in an unique league of trusted worldwide companions. This transfer additional enhances Qatar’s rising diplomatic affect, marked by its function in internet hosting worldwide mediations, world summits, and increasing relations with international locations throughout Latin America and Asia. Consequently, Qatar now enjoys visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to 112 locations, up from 108 in January 2024. This enchancment has helped the nation rise six spots within the rankings, from 53rd to forty seventh place globally. Lately, Qatar’s passport has constantly ranked within the mid-50s, with positions of 54th, sixtieth, 53rd, and fifty fifth in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. Now, it holds second place amongst GCC international locations, with the UAE sustaining the highest place.
Saudi Arabia: Quiet Progress with Key New Entry
The Saudi Arabian passport continues its gradual upward development, now rating 54th globally on the Henley Passport Index, with entry to 91 locations with out requiring a previous visa. A serious breakthrough this yr got here in June 2025, when China granted Saudi residents visa-free entry, adopted by related agreements with Turkey and the UK. Whereas Saudi Arabia’s progress hasn’t been as speedy as that of the UAE or Qatar, its regular strategy, pairing home reforms with lively worldwide engagement, is exhibiting outcomes. The enlargement of digital visa techniques and a rising tourism sector have additional enhanced the dominion’s world standing. This yr alone, Saudi Arabia added 4 new visa-free locations. The settlement with China, particularly, marks a major step in strengthening the passport’s attain and affect.
Kuwait: Steady, however Not Accelerating
As of 2025, Kuwait’s passport ranks fiftieth globally, in response to the newest Henley & Companions report, providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to roughly 100 locations. Whereas Kuwaiti residents take pleasure in full visa-free motion inside the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), world mobility development has been modest in comparison with regional leaders. Kuwait’s slower progress is partly as a result of lack of main new bilateral visa agreements previously yr. Its software for Schengen visa-free entry stays pending, limiting additional enlargement. In distinction, international locations just like the UAE, ranked eighth with entry to 184 locations, and Qatar have superior quickly by means of lively visa diplomacy. This highlights Kuwait’s regular however cautious strategy to enhancing passport energy, leading to a relative lag behind its extra proactive GCC friends.
Oman and Bahrain: Modest Mobility, Regional Energy
Mentioning the rear amongst GCC nations are Oman and Bahrain, ranked 56th and fifty fifth respectively, in response to the Henley Passport Index for July 2025. Bahraini passport holders now take pleasure in visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to 90 locations, whereas Omani residents can entry 88 locations, up from 86 in 2024.Each international locations proceed to learn from sturdy regional integration by means of the GCC framework, although their world mobility stays extra restricted in comparison with main regional friends. The Sultanate of Oman, particularly, continues its upward development in worldwide journey rankings, rising from sixty fifth in 2023 to sixtieth in 2024 and now 56th in 2025. Bahrain has additionally made progress, climbing 4 positions from 59th in 2024 to fifty fifth in 2025, reflecting modest but regular enhancements in world entry.Notably, each Oman and Bahrain had been included in China’s sweeping visa-free enlargement in June 2025, alongside a number of of their Gulf neighbors, additional contributing to their gradual enchancment in world mobility.
China’s Diplomatic Play: Visa-Free for All Six GCC States
In a major diplomatic and financial growth, China prolonged visa-free entry to all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, in June 2025. This resolution displays Beijing’s broader push to deepen its geopolitical and financial ties with the Center East by means of enhanced mobility, tourism, and bilateral cooperation.Beforehand, solely UAE and Qatar residents loved visa-free entry to China. As of June 9, 2025, China has included Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain on this expanded coverage, providing visa-free entry for as much as 30 days for functions together with enterprise, tourism, household visits, and cultural exchanges.This initiative is a part of a one-year trial program working from June 9, 2025, to June 8, 2026, and is anticipated to considerably enhance tourism, funding flows, tech partnerships, and people-to-people exchanges between China and the Gulf area. It additionally positions China as a number one vacation spot for GCC vacationers and strengthens its strategic engagement within the Center East.
Intra-Gulf Mobility: A Regional Energy
All six GCC international locations proceed to permit free motion of residents throughout their borders, as per present Gulf Cooperation Council protocols. This intra-regional mobility stays unaffected by world rankings and gives a powerful baseline of motion for Gulf residents, no matter their worldwide passport energy.
FAQ: Gulf Passports and the Henley Index (2025)
Q. What’s the Henley Passport Index? Ranks passports by variety of locations accessible with out a prior visa; up to date quarterly utilizing IATA knowledge.Q. Why is the UAE ranked larger than the US or UK? UAE signed 50+ visa offers, granting entry to 184 locations, greater than the US or UK.Q. What’s the US Visa Waiver Program, and why is Qatar’s inclusion vital? Qatar is the primary Arab nation in this system, enabling visa-free US entry and boosting world rank.Q. Which international locations provide visa-free entry to all GCC nations now? China, Turkey, and Malaysia now permit visa-free entry for all GCC residents, reflecting rising world belief.Q. Is GCC mobility affected by Henley rankings? No. GCC residents take pleasure in free motion inside member states no matter their world passport rankings.Q. Are Saudi Arabia and Kuwait anticipated to rise additional? Sure. Saudi reforms and Kuwait’s Schengen talks may additional enhance passport energy in coming years.Q. Which Gulf passports stay the weakest in world mobility? Oman (56th) and Bahrain (fifty fifth) rank lowest within the GCC however proceed gradual enchancment.
