Muscat: According to the latest index, Omani passport holders can now travel visa-free to 85 destinations worldwide. These include a wide range of countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean such as Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, China, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, and Zambia, among others.
Within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Oman’s position places it mid-table. The United Arab Emirates continues to lead the region, ranked fifth globally with access to 184 destinations. Kuwait stands at 50th with 96 visa-free destinations, while Saudi Arabia is ranked 55th with access to 87 countries. Qatar offers visa-free access to 111 destinations.
The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without obtaining a prior visa. The 2026 edition highlights a growing global mobility divide. While a record number of passports are clustered at the top of the rankings, those at the bottom remain increasingly isolated.
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At the global level, Singapore retains its position as the world’s most powerful passport, providing visa-free access to 192 destinations. Afghanistan once again ranks last, with access to just 24 destinations, creating a stark 168-destination gap. This marks a significant widening from 2006, when the gap between the top-ranked passport and Afghanistan stood at 118 destinations.
Commenting on the trend, Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association, said that 2026 is expected to see a record number of global travellers. While the economic and social benefits of travel continue to grow, he noted that passports alone are increasingly insufficient as governments tighten border controls, calling on policymakers to leverage digital identity and digital passport technologies to balance convenience and security.
Asia continues to dominate the top tier of the rankings, with Japan and South Korea sharing second place, each offering visa-free access to 188 destinations. Several European nations occupy the next slots, while the UAE stands out as the only Middle Eastern country among the global top five.
