The UAE passport has managed to make a mega jump this year, to the first position in the Arab World, and 22nd globally, as per reports by Global Passport Power Rank 2017.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation (MoFAIC), recently launched the UAE Passport Force initiative, aimed at placing the State’s passport on the list of five most important passports in the world by the year 2021. This was done as per the directives of HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.
This achievement is the result of success of the UAE diplomacy during the past period in carrying out the directives of the President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, about openness to all countries in the world.
This is also due to the efforts by the UAE diplomacy to establish a strategic political, economic, cultural, commercial, scientific, educational and health ties that contribute towards improving the status of the State at a global level.
The MoFAIC emphasized that the UAE 2021 vision aims to make the country one of the best countries in the world by the golden jubilee of the Union, and it has prompted the ministry to strengthen the position of the State in the international arena. Therefore, the UAE Passport Force initiative has been launched to enable nationals to enter the world countries, without the need for pre-entry visa requirements. This, in turn, increases the happiness of the nationals, it pointed out.
The ministry further worked in boosting the diplomatic move towards better openness to the world by exchange of visits and contacts at highest levels, and by holding joint committee meetings regularly. Among such moves were the opening up and strengthening of ties with Latin America, Pacific and African countries, and making a positive presence in regional and international forums.
The ministry also said that the government’s strategy to offer distinguished services to nationals, including exemption from pre-entry visa requirements to countries of the world. The UAE diplomacy plays a vital role in pushing governments from across the world to agree to exempt nationals from the pre-entry visa requirements when they visit their countries.
According to Assistant Under-Secretary for Consular Affairs at the Ministry, Ahmed Saeed Elham Al Dhaheri, the ranking of UAE passport as the first Arab passport and 22nd globally, is one of the most important achievements of the UAE diplomacy, under the leadership of HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
This accomplishment is the result of remarkable efforts and huge economic development achievements, the UAE official noted.
The UAE passport permits its holder to visit 128 countries around the world, without the need of a pre-entry visa requirement.
