The Henley Passport Index for 2026 has been released, revealing minimal shifts at the top of the global rankings. Singapore has once again secured its position as the world’s most powerful passport, granting holders visa-free access to 192 destinations.

Japan and South Korea remain jointly in second place, each offering visa-free entry to 188 destinations, underscoring Asia’s continued dominance in global mobility. In third place are Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, all providing access to 186 destinations.

They are followed by a historic cluster of ten European nations — Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway — tied for fourth place.

Rounding out the top tier are several high-ranking passports from beyond Europe. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranks fifth, followed by New Zealand in sixth, Australia in seventh, Canada in eighth, and Malaysia in ninth place, according to the Henley report.

At the other end of the scale, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index, with its citizens able to access only 24 destinations without a prior visa. The 168-destination gap between Singapore and Afghanistan highlights the extent of global mobility inequality in 2026 — a divide that has dramatically widened since 2006, when the spread between the top-ranking US passport and Afghanistan stood at 118 destinations.

“Over the past 20 years, global mobility has expanded significantly, but the benefits have been distributed unevenly,” said Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the Henley Passport Index.

“Today, passport privilege plays a decisive role in shaping opportunity, security, and economic participation, with rising average access masking a reality in which mobility advantages are increasingly concentrated among the world’s most economically powerful and politically stable nations.”

Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), noted that a record number of travelers is expected in 2026. “The economic and social benefits generated by international travel continue to grow as it becomes more accessible,” he said. “However, while more people can now afford to travel, many are finding that a passport alone is no longer enough to cross borders.

As governments seek to tighten border security, policymakers should not overlook technological solutions like digital IDs and digital passports. Convenient travel and secure borders can go hand-in-hand.”

The United States has returned to the top 10 ranking after falling out briefly in late 2025, while the United Kingdom also remains among the world’s most mobile nations. However, both countries have experienced a sustained decline from their shared first-place position in 2014.

Over the past year, the US and UK recorded their steepest annual drops in visa-free access, losing access to seven and eight destinations respectively. Over two decades, the US has seen the third-largest ranking decline, slipping six places from fourth in 2006 to tenth in 2026, trailing only Venezuela and Vanuatu among the biggest global fallers.

The UK has registered the fourth-largest decline, dropping four places from third in 2006 to seventh this year.

The UAE stands out as the strongest long-term performer on the Henley Passport Index. Since 2006, it has added 149 visa-free destinations and soared 57 places to fifth in the 2026 rankings, with visa-free access to 184 destinations. This remarkable rise reflects the country’s proactive diplomacy and strategic efforts in visa liberalization.

Countries across the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe have also posted major advances in global mobility over the past two decades. Albania leads this group, climbing 36 positions to 43rd place. Ukraine follows closely with a 34-place rise to 30th.

Serbia has advanced 30 positions to 34th, North Macedonia has moved up 27 spots to 38th, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia both gained 29 and 26 positions respectively, now sharing 42nd place. These gains collectively highlight the impact of enhanced regional cooperation and closer alignment with major global partners.

In contrast, Bolivia is the only country on the index to experience an overall decline in visa-free access over the past 20 years. It has lost five visa-free destinations and fallen 32 places, ranking 61st in 2026.

Air travel across Italy was disrupted on Friday after a technical fault affected the country’s air traffic control systems, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.

Air traffic control provider ENAV said it had introduced temporary restrictions on air traffic capacity after detecting overnight anomalies in the data transmission network supporting air traffic services nationwide.

Authorities said the disruption was not caused by sabotage and confirmed that the technical issue had been resolved later in the day.

Data from aviation analytics company Cirium showed that 192 flights had been cancelled by around 1000 GMT. At the same time, only about 31% of departures from Italian airports were leaving on schedule.

The situation was particularly challenging at the country’s major airports. On-time departures stood at approximately 25% at Milan Malpensa Airport and 28% at Rome Fiumicino Airport.

ENAV announced at around 1325 GMT that it had restored full operational capacity, bringing the technical disruption to an end.

Source: Reuters

Saudi telecom operator STC Group is offering free, unlimited calls to and from Saudi Arabia for customers roaming overseas, helping travellers maintain contact with their families amid continuing flight disruptions.

Announced on X, the initiative runs from October 12 to October 19. STC said the offer was intended to support customers facing difficulties staying connected with loved ones during an uncertain period.

“We understand how difficult it can be to be away from family, particularly during times like these,” the company told Arab News.

STC added that free, unlimited calling would make it easier for customers outside the Kingdom to communicate with relatives and provide reassurance during the disruption.

The initiative comes as flights to and from Riyadh face interruptions following a recent attack on King Khalid International Airport.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation announced on X that the airport’s operational suspension had been extended to allow safety inspections of its facilities to be completed. The authority did not provide a timeline for the resumption of flights.

Traveller Welcomes Initiative but Calls for Free Internet

Hisham Al-Ghasim, a Saudi citizen whose return journey from Bangkok to Riyadh was disrupted, welcomed STC’s offer but said free internet access would have been more practical.

His existing mobile package already covered calls, while internet connectivity was important for arranging alternative travel, making bookings and accessing essential applications.

He told Arab News that providing unrestricted internet access instead of free calls would have been more useful because many everyday communications and travel arrangements depend on online services.

Al-Ghasim had completed a business trip to Bangkok and was waiting for a taxi when he received a notification that his return flight had been delayed.

He said he was informed that his departure had been postponed by three days. Although he had been following developments, he had not expected his flight booking to be cancelled.

His original itinerary involved an Emirates flight via Dubai to Riyadh. He subsequently arranged to end his journey in the United Arab Emirates instead.

After reaching Dubai, Al-Ghasim contacted the Saudi Consulate General, which offered assistance with returning to the Kingdom by road through organised group transport.

Saudi Missions Assist Stranded Citizens

Saudi embassies and consulates have also been helping citizens affected by flight cancellations associated with regional security developments.

Their support includes arranging emergency accommodation and helping travellers identify alternative routes to return home as aviation disruptions continue.

Source: Arab News

flydubai has cancelled all flights to Riyadh until October 14, the airline confirmed in a statement.

A spokesperson said the carrier is monitoring the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities and will notify passengers of any changes to flight schedules through its official communication channels.

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to visit the Manage Booking section on the airline’s website, flydubai.com, to review available refund or rebooking options.

Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents should contact their agents directly for assistance.

The airline apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the disruption and said it would continue to provide updates through its official channels.

Source: Emirates247

Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended services to Riyadh and Dammam, issuing a travel alert for passengers travelling to the two Saudi Arabian destinations.

The Qatari airline said it was monitoring developments in Saudi Arabia in coordination with the relevant authorities. In response to the evolving situation, the carrier halted flights to both cities until further notice.

Passengers have been urged to verify their flight status through the airline’s official website or mobile application before travelling.

Qatar Airways said the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority. The airline added that customers affected by the suspensions would be contacted directly, with additional updates published on its website as more information becomes available.

Source: QNA

Several UAE airlines have cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia, disrupting services to Riyadh and Dammam between October 10 and October 14, according to airline announcements and published flight schedules.

Flydubai confirmed that its flights between Dubai and Riyadh would remain cancelled through October 14. The airline said it was monitoring developments in coordination with the relevant authorities and would communicate further schedule changes through its official channels.

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to visit the Manage Booking section on flydubai’s website to review available refund and rebooking options. Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents should contact their respective agents for assistance. The airline also apologised for the inconvenience caused by the changes.

Etihad Airways has cancelled selected flights between Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh for the period from October 10 to October 12.

Emirates has also recorded cancellations on several services between Dubai and Riyadh on October 11 and 12. Disruptions extended to flights connecting Dubai with Dammam on October 11.

For October 12, Emirates' published schedules listed flights EK823 and EK821 between Dubai and Dammam as cancelled, while flight EK827 remained scheduled to operate.

The cancellations reflect schedule adjustments by multiple UAE carriers serving Saudi Arabia during the affected period.

Airlines have advised passengers to monitor official communication channels for the latest flight information and to contact their carriers or travel agents to discuss available options if their journeys have been affected.

Source: Emirates247