Story perspectives

US Passport Falls to 10th, UAE Gains 153 Visa-Free Spots

7/23/2026

Summary

US Passport Falls

The United States' passport fell to No. 10 on the Henley Index, granting visa-free entry to 180 of 227 destinations.
The United States ranks 73rd on the Henley Openness Index, allowing only 46 nationalities visa-free entry.
American travelers still need a visa for China, a restriction most top-ranked passports avoid.
Thirty-six nations now outrank the United States, placing it near 37th in mobility.

Summary

UAE Passport Expands

UAE passport added 153 visa-free destinations to 188, causing a 41% rise in citizenship-by-investment enquiries since February.
Henley & Partners recorded 86 nationalities applying to 47 programmes and generated USD 15 billion FDI and a 41% rise in UAE-based enquiries through its wealth-migration services.
The Safe Haven Forum will convene experts, investors and policymakers on residence strategies while Schengen visa-waiver agreements boost corporate agility between the UAE and Europe.

History

Historical Context

The Schengen Agreement, signed 14 June 1985 by five EEC states, created a passport-free zone when it entered force on 26 March 1995, eliminating internal checks for the 29 member countries. Its incorporation into EU law by the 1999 Amsterdam Treaty made the area a core Union feature, covering over 450 million people and spurring regions such as the United Arab Emirates and the United States to chase visa-free rankings.

1 of 3

US Passport Falls

The United States' passport fell to No. 10 on the Henley Index, granting visa-free entry to 180 of 227 destinations.
The United States ranks 73rd on the Henley Openness Index, allowing only 46 nationalities visa-free entry.
American travelers still need a visa for China, a restriction most top-ranked passports avoid.
Thirty-six nations now outrank the United States, placing it near 37th in mobility.

1 / 3