It’s risen from 4th place in less than a month

The UAE Media Office made the announcement on Thursday that the country’s passport had risen from 4th to 3rd place in the Global Passport Power Rank which is put together by the Passport Index.

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The UAE’s passport has seen a meteoric rise this year, rising from 15th most powerful in June to rising steadily over the summer and autumn months to its current 3rd place position this Thursday.

At it’s new third place position, the passport ranks the same as the UK’s passport and Switzerland’s passport as well as the nations of Belgium, Austria, Japan, Greece, Portugal, Ireland and Canada.

In response to the recent rise in the passport’s ranking, the Passport Index published a blog post entitled UAE to become the world’s most powerful passport? In the article, the organisation attributes the nation’s “positive diplomacy, focus and determination” as reasons for the rise, and said that passport holders can now visit 80% of the world’s countries visa-free.

The agency also noted the country’s 2021 Vision as a contributing factor in the passport’s rise, stating:

“UAE Vision 2021, launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, provides additional support to strengthen the nation’s global presence. With an aim to make the UAE among the best countries in the world, the nation is prioritizing the development of sustainable environment and infrastructure, competitive economy, cohesive society and preserved identity, safe community and fair judiciary, first-rate education system, as well as world-class health care.”

At this rate, the passport could make it to the number one spot before the end of 2018.

Congrats to the UAE!

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Media: Getty, Instagram