Pakistani Passport Retains Rank As Fourth Worst Globally; UAE Vaults into Top 10

For the fourth year in a row, the Pakistani passport is ranked fourth worst in the world, offering visa-free access to only 33 countries. Meanwhile, the UAE has made a significant jump into the top 10, now allowing visa-free travel to 185 destinations.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Pakistani passport has held its position as the fourth worst globally, according to the latest Henley Passport Index, as reported by Dawn. This index evaluates the travel documents of 199 countries based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.

In the most recent rankings released on Tuesday, Pakistan's passport shares the 100th spot with Yemen, offering visa-free access to just 33 countries. It ranks higher only than Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, a constant from last year. "Afghanistan remains the world's weakest passport, falling further due to losing another visa-free destination over the past six months," stated a press release.

In contrast, Singapore continues to dominate, securing the top spot with its passport providing visa-free access to 195 destinations, a new record. Germany, Italy, Japan, France, and Spain tied for second place, offering access to 192 countries each. Meanwhile, Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden rank third with 191 destinations. The UK shares fourth place with Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland, enabling travel to 190 states. The United States is eighth with access to 186 destinations.

A significant newcomer to the top 10 is the United Arab Emirates (UAE), debuting at ninth position. The UAE now offers visa-free access to 185 destinations, a remarkable rise of 152 places since the index's inception in 2006. Henley & Partners CEO Juerg Steffen attributes the UAE's ascent to the Emirati government's concerted efforts to establish the nation as a global hub for business, tourism, and investment.

"Our research consistently shows a strong correlation between a country's visa-free score and its economic prosperity. Higher visa-free scores often correlate with greater GDP per capita, increased foreign direct investment, and more robust international trade relationships," the release added, Dawn reported.

(With inputs from agencies.)