After the UAE, Germany and Singapore, most of the third-ranking nations - each with visa-free travel to 165 countries - were in Europe, alongside South Korea and the United States.
Issued by the Arton Capital, the Passport Index ranks countries' passports based on the number of countries a passport holder can enter without obtaining a visa or obtaining it at the time of entry.
The passports ranking in the top ten are of the UAE, Singapore, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. A year ago the blue, eagle-emblazoned passports didn't even come in the top 10.
According to its website, Arton Capital is a financial advisory firm that "empowers high net worth individuals and families to become global citizens by investing in a second residence or citizenship".
The feat was announced just in time for the UAE National Day, which is annually celebrated on December 2.
A UAE passport holder can also obtain visas from 54 countries upon arrival, said the Passport Index in its December 2018 report.
More news: 'Europa League 2': Uefa confirms new tournament from 2021Eleven countries including the USA tied for third place with their citizens able to access 165 destinations without a visa. Singapore, Germany 3. Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Norway, South Korea and US 4.
Taiwanese hold the world's 28 most powerful passport, an increase of two spots from its previous ranking on Arton Capital's Passport Index report past year.
While the United Kingdom tied for fourth place with Belgium, Austria, Japan, Greece, Portugal, Switzerland, Ireland and Canada on holders being able to travel to 164 countries. Iraq retained its ranking as second worst at 32, though it improved by eight countries from the previous report, while Pakistan remained third worst with 35, despite seeing an increase of 10 countries for its passport.
Rounding off the top five is the Czech Republic and Hungarian passports, which give visa-free travel to 163 countries.
In February, Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index declared that the Singaporean and Japanese passports are the most powerful.
