UAE passport now the most powerful in the world
Good news!
News recently broke that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport has overtaken Singapore and Germany as the strongest passport in the world! Here’s another reason to go big on your holidays this 100th Year of Zayed!
What this means for all Emiratis
All UAE passport holders can now visit up to 167 countries without any pre-visa requirements. This means you won’t have to apply for a visa prior to visiting these destinations.
However, UAE passport holders will still need to obtain a visa on arrival for some of the 167 countries. See below for the full list of countries with no visa requirements for all Emirati citizens.
Visa not required:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Canada
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- South Korea
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macedonia
- Malaysia
- Mali
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Norway
- Panama
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Spain
- Sudan
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Ukraine
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
UAE passport holders can also enter Kosovo, Northern Cyprus, Palestine, South Ossetia and Transnistria* without a visa.
*Registration is required after 24 hours in Transnistria.
New countries added to the list in 2018
China
China is home to one of the world’s fastest growing economies and export industries. Home to a whopping 1.4 billion people, the world’s biggest e-commerce website and over 34,000 different species of animals and plants, you can truly find whatever you need in this country.
Food is also another key highlight in China – with so many different cultures and traditions, food in one part of China can be vastly different from another. Despite having only opened up to globalization recently, the technologically advanced cities of Shanghai and Beijing provide an eye-opening glimpse into the world of possibilities yet to be unlocked in this country.
Here’s some must-do activities when in China:
Ireland
They say there’s a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow in Ireland just waiting to be found, and they may just be right! While not a literal pot of gold, Ireland is a goldmine of natural landscapes, historical buildings and celebratory culture all around.
Many know of leprechauns or little green bearded men most commonly associated with Saint Patrick’s Day – a celebration involving all things green with feasts and dancing all around.
Here’s some must-do activities when in Ireland:
Canada
Canada is paradise on Earth. You’ll find vast wilderness, lakes, mountains and waterfalls all over the country, the most popular of which is the Niagara Falls, one of the world’s most photographed falls.
Of all Canadian exports you will probably know of maple syrup and Justin Bieber. The maple leaf is also a symbol commonly associated with the country and is a key feature on the national flag.
Mexico
Mexico is a melting pot of ancient civilizations, carnivals and art all around. Mayan ruins of the can be found all throughout the country alongside taco stands and elotes or grilled Mexican street corn.
Mexican food in itself is a culture that has spread all over the world and nothing beats sinking your teeth into a fresh tamale or quesadilla made fresh to order from a quaint shop along the city square.
Barbados
There’s no such thing as the perfect paradise but those who’ve been to the island of Barbados would say it comes pretty close. The island is surrounded by coral reefs teeming with marine life and numerous caves just waiting to be explored.
Barbados has its own culture called “Bajan” culture influenced by African, Indian, Irish, Creole and British culture. Don’t forget to try the national dish of cou-cou (a type of fungi) and flying fish in spicy gravy!
P.S. Did you know pop-star Rihanna hails from Barbados?
Brazil
Famed for soccer, beaches and vibrant festivals, Brazil is the largest country in South and Latin America. Coffee lovers everywhere will also be interested to know that coffee is the national beverage of Brazil!
One of the country’s largest celebrations include the Brazilian Carnival where samba dancers dressed in flamboyant costumes take to the streets to celebrate the beginning of Lent. Brazil is also known for their macaws, popularized by the animated Disney flick Rio.
Tonga
Tonga is an island in Polynesia made up of 169 islands. It is also interesting to note that the country has never lost sovereignty to another foreign power. Apart from the many islands and beaches to be explored, adventurers can also check out Tofua – scenic volcano island home to a crater lake.
Rugby is a celebrated sport and the national sport of Tonga. The national team is one of the better performing teams in the sport and have won several international games. Many Tongan players also play for the famous All Blacks or Wallabies.
Uruguay
Uruguay is best known for their beaches and art deco buildings, along with a famous sculpture of a massive human hand in the sand – the La Mano de Punta del Este.
Explore the Mercado del Puerto – one of the city’s most popular markets for some great food on the grill and one of Uruguay’s oldest local dishes asado which involves all kinds of barbecued meat and innards. You’ll also be able to pick up a small souvenir to remember the country by!
Enjoy 10% off your next holiday!
We’re giving you even more reason to celebrate! Enjoy 10% off all Klook activities (except Universal Studios Japan and Japan Rail Passes) when you checkout with promo code “10HOLIDAYS” on the Klook website or mobile app.
Photo Credits: Cover image of UAE passport from Wikipedia.
