Kuwaiti passport ranks third in Arab World, 50th globally in 2026 Index; visa-free access to 96 destinations

The Kuwaiti passport has been ranked 50th globally and third in the Arab world, according to the latest Henley Passport Index 2026 issued by the international consulting firm Henley & Partners. The ranking places Kuwait behind the United Arab Emirates, which came fifth worldwide, and Qatar, ranked 47th.

The index shows that Kuwaiti passport holders can now travel to 96 destinations worldwide without the need for a prior visa, reflecting the country’s expanding diplomatic ties and growing international engagement.

Henley & Partners, based in London, publishes the annual index using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), covering 227 countries and territories. The ranking is widely regarded as the most authoritative measure of global travel freedom.

Singapore retained its position as the world’s most powerful passport for 2026, granting visa-free access to 192 destinations. Japan and South Korea tied for second place, while five European countries, including Switzerland and Spain, shared third.

The UAE continued its remarkable rise, sharing fifth place globally and recording the strongest performance in the index’s 20-year history. Since 2006, the Emirates has added 149 new visa-free destinations, driven by active diplomacy and streamlined travel agreements.

In contrast, the United Kingdom saw the sharpest annual decline, dropping to access 182 destinations, nearly eight fewer than last year. The United States ranked tenth, with access to 179 destinations, after briefly falling out of the top ten in late 2025.

China continued its steady climb, moving up 28 places over the past decade to rank 59th globally, underscoring its strategic use of openness to strengthen economic and diplomatic influence.

At the bottom of the index, Afghanistan ranked last, with visa-free access to only 24 destinations, followed by Syria and Iraq.

Misha Glini, President of the Institute of Human Sciences in Vienna, noted that the strength of a passport reflects political stability, diplomatic credibility, and a country’s influence in the international system.

Meanwhile, IATA Director General Willy Walsh stressed that while governments are tightening border controls, technological advances such as digital identity and digital passports offer a path to achieving both seamless travel and secure borders.

Within the Arab world, Kuwait’s third-place position highlights its solid standing in regional mobility, trailing only the UAE and Qatar. The ranking underscores Kuwait’s ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and facilitate international travel for its citizens.

In the same index, India rose to 80th place, granting its passport holders visa-free access to 55 destinations. While South Asian passports remain comparatively limited, India’s improvement reflects gradual diplomatic gains.

India’s passport has climbed to 80th place in the Henley Passport Index 2026, giving holders visa-free or simplified entry to 55 destinations worldwide and strengthening India’s position among South Asian nations, Gulf News reports.

Indian travelers can now visit a wide range of countries across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Middle East, including Angola, Barbados, Bhutan, the British Virgin Islands, the Cook Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Macao (SAR China), Malaysia, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montserrat, Nepal, Niue, Rwanda, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago and Vanuatu without a prior visa.

In addition, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, the Philippines, Palau Islands, Qatar, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu and Zimbabwe offer Visa-on-Arrival (VOA) or Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), allowing entry permission to be obtained at the border or online before departure.

Popular destinations such as Cambodia, Indonesia, Kenya, Maldives and Sri Lanka continue to attract Indian travelers seeking flexibility and ease of access, while the broader list highlights growing mobility compared to regional neighbors, with Pakistan ranked 98th and Bangladesh 95th.

The improvement reflects India’s steady diplomatic outreach and expanding international travel opportunities, even as Singapore, Japan and South Korea continue to dominate the top of the global passport rankings.