Climbing up Henley's index to become the most powerful passport in the region.

According to the recent Henley Passport Index released on Tuesday, UAE's passport is now ranked 23rd, and remains the fastest overall climber on the index, ascending 38 places since 2008.

The country has secured more new visa-waivers for its citizens in 2018 than any other jurisdiction in the world and retains its top position in the Gulf region. Emiratis, now, get visa free access to 154 countries.

Japan has consolidated its spot at the top of the Index, now offering its citizens visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a record total of 189 destinations. Following closely behind Japan are Singapore and Germany in joint 2nd place, with 188 destinations accessible without a prior visa. 3rd place is shared by six countries: one Asian (South Korea) and the rest European (Finland, France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden).

The UAE races to the top as the Middle East region places tourism firmly on the agenda. Leading global efforts towards improved travel freedom is the UAE, which has gained access to eight new countries in 2018 alone: China, Ireland, Burkina Faso, Uruguay, Guinea, Tonga, Benin, and Honduras.

The country's reciprocal agreement with China in particular has led to the Emirati hospitality and tourist industries reporting growth of up to 70 per cent compared to 2017, as Chinese travelers begin taking advantage of their newfound access to the Middle East's main hub.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said recently that the country is actively strengthening its diplomatic efforts in a bid to have one of the top five passports in the world, as per the country's Vision 2021.

SOURCE : KHALEEJ TIMES