UAE Highest Climber But Asia Still Dominates When It Comes To Passport Power
As we enter the new decade, Asian countries have firmly established their lead on the Henley Passport Index, the original ranking of all the world's passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. For the third consecutive year, Japan has secured the top spot on the index — which is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) — with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 191. Singapore holds onto 2nd-place position with a score of 190, while South Korea drops down a rank to 3rd place alongside Germany, with access to 189 destinations. The US and the UK also continue their downward trajectory. While both countries remain in the top 10, their shared 8th-place position is a significant decline from the number one spot they jointly held in 2015.
Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index, with its nationals only able to visit a mere 26 destinations visa-free.
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, says although people are more mobile than ever before, the latest results also indicate a growing divide when it comes to travel freedom. "Japanese passport holders are able to access 165 more destinations than Afghan nationals. Analysis of our historical data reveals that this extraordinary global mobility gap is the starkest it's been since the index's inception in 2006."
The index's historic success story remains the UAE, which has climbed a remarkable 47 places over the past 10 years and now sits in 18th place, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 171. A number of other Middle Eastern countries have made strong gains as part of overall efforts to boost trade and tourism. Saudi Arabia climbed four places, while Oman climbed three. Saudi Arabia is now in 66th place, with citizens able to access 77 destinations around the world without a prior visa, while Oman sits in 64th place, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 79.
Despite these positive regional developments, Dr. Lorraine Charles, Research Associate at the University of Cambridge's Centre for Business Research, warns that migration and mobility trends in the Middle East are largely driven by conflict, which looks set to continue in 2020. Citing deepening conflicts in Libya, Syria, and Yemen, and with renewed anti-government protests in Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon, Charles notes that "forced displacement will most likely continue to dominate migration and mobility patterns within the Middle East."
Syria has dropped 18 places since 2010, falling from 87th position to 105th, with citizens now able to access just 29 destinations without a visa in advance, while Yemen has dropped 15 places in that period, from 88th to 103rd, and now has a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of just 33. Since last year, Qatar has dropped one place, moving from 57th place last year to 58th place currently. Kuwait now sits at 57th place and Bahrain retains its score of 63 since last year, with visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 82 destinations.
The impact of these and other key developments is analysed in depth in the 2020 edition of the Henley Passport Index and Global Mobility Report — a unique publication that offers cutting-edge analysis and commentary from leading scholars and professional experts on the latest trends shaping international and regional mobility patterns today.
Going into the new year, Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, says countries with investment migration programs continue to consolidate their positions on the index. "Demand is accelerating, just as the supply has grown globally, with both nations and wealthy individuals viewing these programs as an absolute requirement in a volatile world where competition for capital is fierce."
