Qatar has maintained its solid position in the latest quarterly update of the Henley Passport Index, ranking 47th globally and second among Middle Eastern countries, underscoring the nation’s steady diplomatic progress and international mobility status.
Released
on July 22, 2025, the updated
index evaluated 199 passports worldwide,
ranking them based on the number of destinations accessible without the need
for a prior visa. Qatari passport holders can now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival
access to 112 destinations,
placing the country ahead of most of its Gulf counterparts.
In
the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC),
the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
continues to lead, climbing two spots to 8th place globally, offering visa-free access to 184 destinations. The rankings of
other GCC nations are: Kuwait
(50th, 100 destinations), Saudi Arabia
(54th, 91 destinations), Bahrain
(55th, 90 destinations), and Oman
(56th, 88 destinations).
Asian Nations
Lead the Global Mobility Race
Asian
passports have once again asserted their dominance in the index. Singapore ranks 1st, with visa-free access to a record
193 countries. Japan and South Korea follow closely, both offering access to 190 destinations.
A
major highlight this quarter is India,
which recorded its biggest-ever
improvement, jumping eight
places to reach 77th rank.
Indian passport holders now have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 59 destinations, reflecting expanding
diplomatic and travel agreements.
US and UK
Continue Downward Trend
Once
global leaders in passport power, the
United States and the United Kingdom continue to lose ground in the
rankings. The US has dropped to
an all-time low of 10th place,
with access to 182 destinations,
down from 9th earlier this year. The UK
fell one place to 6th, now
offering visa-free travel to 186
destinations.
Passport
Rankings and Qatar’s Expat Population
The
updated rankings are particularly relevant for Qatar’s large expatriate
community. Citizens of the top ten nationalities residing in Qatar hold
passports with varying degrees of travel freedom:
1. India
– 77th (59 destinations)
2. Bangladesh
– 94th (39 destinations)
3. Nepal
– 95th (38 destinations)
4. Egypt
– 85th (49 destinations)
5. Philippines
– 72nd (65 destinations)
6. Pakistan
– 96th (32 destinations)
7. Sri Lanka
– 91st (42 destinations)
8. Sudan
– 92nd (41 destinations)
9. Syria
– 98th (27 destinations)
10.
Jordan – 84th (51 destinations)
At
the bottom of the index, Afghanistan ranks 99th, with access to only 25 destinations, followed by Syria and Iraq, highlighting stark global inequalities in passport power.
The
Henley Passport Index, developed
in collaboration with the International
Air Transport Association (IATA), provides quarterly rankings based on
reliable global travel data. As Dr.
Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, emphasized: “A passport
today is more than a travel document. It reflects a country’s diplomatic
influence, global integration, and foreign policy priorities.”
For Qatar, the consistent ranking confirms its growing global presence and effective international partnerships, especially as the nation continues to expand its visa agreements and mobility frameworks.
