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Passport Index Ranking of Arab Countries

posted on: Oct 26, 2022

By: Mariam Alyakoob / Arab America Contributing Writer

Photo: UAE Passport / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

A passport index, created by Henley & Partners, is defined as an “authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa”. This means that depending on the passport you have, you may be able to travel more freely across different countries than someone who may be from a country with a low passport index ranking, and vice versa. Within the Arab World, some countries hold some of the lowest ranked passports while others hold some of the highest ranked passports. Let’s explore.

In this article we will be exploring the passport index ranking in alphabetical order of the member states of the Arab League which include: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordon, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. 

Before we start let’s define some terms:

  • Visa Free: A trip to any country that does not require you to obtain a visa with your passport
  • Visa on arrival: Travelers must obtain a visa in order to enter the destination country, but it can be obtained upon arrival so they do not have to apply beforehand.
  • ETA: A digital visa that is stored in a database rather than stamped or glued into the bearer’s passport.

Algeria

Photo: Algeria Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 18

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival: 43

# of countries that require ETA: 2

# Countries that require Visa: 135

Overall passport power rank: 78

Bahrain

Photo: Bahrain Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 44

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:46

# of countries that require ETA: 6

# Countries that require Visa: 102

Overall passport power rank: 51

Comoros

Photo: Comoros Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 17

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:43

# of countries that require ETA: 2

# Countries that require Visa: 136

Overall passport power rank: 79

Djibouti

Photo: Djibouti / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 13

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:43

# of countries that require ETA: 2

# Countries that require Visa: 140

Overall passport power rank: 83

Egypt

Photo: Egypt Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 17

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:45

# of countries that require ETA: 1

# Countries that require Visa: 135

Overall passport power rank: 78

Iraq

Photo: Iraq Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 5

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:32

# of countries that require ETA: 2

# Countries that require Visa: 159

Overall passport power rank: 95

Jordan

Photo: Jordan Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 18

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:43

# of countries that require ETA: 3

# Countries that require Visa: 134

Overall passport power rank: 77

Kuwait

Photo: Kuwait Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 52

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:46

# of countries that require ETA: 6

# Countries that require Visa: 94

Overall passport power rank: 47

Lebanon

Photo: Lebanon Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 13

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:40

# of countries that require ETA: 2

# Countries that require Visa: 143

Overall passport power rank: 85

Libya

Photo: Libya Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 11

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:36

# of countries that require ETA: 2

# Countries that require Visa: 149

Overall passport power rank: 91

Mauritania

Photo: Mauritania Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 24

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:38

# of countries that require ETA: 1

# Countries that require Visa: 135

Overall passport power rank: 78

Morocco

Photo: Morocco Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 30

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:44

# of countries that require ETA: 2

# Countries that require Visa: 122

Overall passport power rank: 66

Oman

Photo: Oman Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 38

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:48

# of countries that require ETA: 6

# Countries that require Visa: 106

Overall passport power rank: 54

Palestinian Territories

Photo: Palestine Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 9

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:37

# of countries that require ETA: 2

# Countries that require Visa: 150

Overall passport power rank: 92

Qatar

Photo: Qatar Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 58

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:44

# of countries that require ETA: 6

# Countries that require Visa: 90

Overall passport power rank: 45

Saudi Arabia

Photo: Saudi Arabia Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 41

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:45

# of countries that require ETA: 6

# Countries that require Visa: 106

Overall passport power rank: 54

Somalia

Photo: Somalia Flag / Credit: Public Domain Pictures

# Countries allow Visa Free: 8

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:33

# of countries that require ETA: 2

# Countries that require Visa: 155

Overall passport power rank: 94

Sudan

Photo: Sudan Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 11

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:40

# of countries that require ETA: 1

# Countries that require Visa: 146

Overall passport power rank: 88

Syria

Photo: Syria Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 6

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:31

# of countries that require ETA: 1

# Countries that require Visa: 160

Overall passport power rank: 96

Tunisia

Photo: Tunisia Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 35

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:44

# of countries that require ETA: 3

# Countries that require Visa: 116

Overall passport power rank: 61

UAE

Photo: UAE Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 112

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:57

# of countries that require ETA: 7

# Countries that require Visa: 22

Overall passport power rank: 1

Yemen

Photo: Yemen Flag / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

# Countries allow Visa Free: 8

# Countries allow Visa on Arrival:34

# of countries that require ETA: 2

# Countries that require Visa: 154

Overall passport power rank: 93

Conclusion

The Arab Country with the lowest ranking and least mobility is Syria with only 6 countries that allow a visa free entrance for Syrian passport holders and 31 countries that allow a visa on arrival. Its overall passport ranking is 96 out of 199 countries and is the second to lowest in the world after Afghanistan. 

The Arab Country with the highest ranking and most mobility is the United Arab Emirates with a passport power rank of 1 out of 199 countries. UAE passport holders are able to enter 112 countries without a visa. They are also allowed to get a visa on arrival from 57 other countries. 

If you would like to explore on your own, check out passportindex.org 


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