Qatar’s passport ranked as 55th most powerful in the world

How many countries or destinations can your passport get you into without the hassle of applying for a visit visa?

If your passport’s colour is the Qatari maroon, that answer would be 100 nations, as per the 2023 report by the Henley Passport Index, considered the authoritative ranking of all world’s passports.

Henley & Partners is proud to announce the launch of the 2023 Henley Passport Index.

To see where your passport ranks, and what visa-free access you have — view the full index, click here: https://t.co/z3Ocsi5IYq #globalcitizens #visafreetravel #passport pic.twitter.com/uMYHWgJ0RI
— Henley & Partners (@HenleyPartners) January 10, 2023

The index, working exclusively on data from the International Air Transport Association, has placed Qatar 55th — from among 199 nations — with visa-free access to 227 travel destinations.

While Japan’s passport is ranked as the world’s most powerful — with visa-free entry to 193 global destinations — Singapore and South Korea shared second place with 192 locations each. Germany and Spain (190 destinations each) rounded off the top-five.

Comparing passports of countries in the Gulf region, Qatar is second only to the UAE, ranked 15th with visa-free access to 178 nations. Kuwait (57th, 97 nations), Bahrain (63rd, 87), Oman (65th, 82) and Saudi Arabia (65th, 82) follow.

However, the Qatari passport’s ranking could see a dramatic improvement in the Index’s next edition as the country is in the process of finalising a visa-free deal with the European Union (EU). Once the agreement is in place, Qatari visa holders can enter 27 EU states without a visa.

Dr. Robert Mogielnicki, a Senior Resident Scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, said Qatar and Kuwait were set to soar higher in the coming years.

“They’re poised for strong and much improved economic performances. Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup provided an unparalleled opportunity to market the small Gulf country to a global audience. The World Bank anticipates Kuwait’s growth to accelerate to 8.5% alongside a strong performance in the non-oil sectors,” he was quoted as saying by The Peninsula.

Meanwhile, major world powers were understandably in the top-10 ranking, with France, Ireland, Portugal and the UK sharing sixth spot with a visa-free score of 187. USA, Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, the Czech Republic and Switzerland are all seventh (186).

Australia, Canada, Greece and Malta share eighth spot (185) while Poland and Hungary are ninth (184). Lithuania and Slovakia (183) complete the top-10.

---

Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content.

Instagram - @qatarliving

Twitter - @qatarliving

Facebook - Qatar Living

YouTube - qatarlivingofficial

Share : Share

0 comments

More from Qatar Living

Don’t miss these top (new) destinations to visit in Qatar after the World Cup

While many places that opened exclusively for the world championship are now closed or closing, there is no shortage of new places for you to check out now that the World Cup is over. Apart from several new destinations, Qatar’s usual hangout spots have also amped up their offerings. Here’s a list of places definitely worth visiting again now that the World Cup is over.

Have you tried these hot chocolate spots in Qatar?

We’ve listed out some favorite hot chocolate spots in Qatar along with some new suggestions for some truly unique ones.

Explore Qatar's new play areas for children

From playgrounds to water parks and experiential learning zones, there is no shortage of new play areas for children in Qatar. Have an exciting to start to the New Year by taking your little ones to one of these play areas.

Qatar’s exciting line-up of events for 2023

Carrying on the excitement of the World Cup from last year, Qatar has taken the initiative to host a series of local and global events for everyone. From a colorful balloon festival to a thrilling F1 Sprint race, here is a list of exciting events you can look forward to in 2023.

All you need to know about Qatar Balloon Festival 2023

The third edition of the Qatar Balloon Festival returns this year with a variety of events and activities for everyone. Here’s all you need to know about the Qatar Balloon Festival 2023.

Top Qatar sporting events to see in January 2023

The QOC has released the schedule of sporting events including 81 events for the entire year of 2023. January looks promising with a line-up of eight such tournaments in Qatar.

Cruise season gathers steam as Artania docks at Doha Port

The 2022-23 cruise season is slowly gathering pace, with Artania — a luxury vessel with more than 1,000 passengers onboard — docking at the Doha Port on Saturday.

Doha cements its place as one of world’s top cities to live and work in

Qatar’s transformational journey was acknowledged yet again when Doha was chosen as the 27th best city in the world to live, work, visit and invest in.