Qatari Passport Rises on Global Ranking

According to the most recent ranking provided by Henley & Partners, a global investment migration consultant, the Qatari passport has risen three positions to 57th in the world with a visa-free or visa-on-arrival score of 99.

Qatar was placed 67th in 2012, thus its recent improvement is a reflection of the nation's progressive policies and its allure to investors.

Based on the information provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), the index and contents have been updated, improved, and augmented by substantial internal research and open-source web data. The index lists 227 unique travel places and 199 unique passports. The Henley Passport Indicator, which is updated every quarter, is the strongest and most trustworthy index of its kind.

Qatar, which will host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, finished 60th in 2021 with a score of 97, but it had its best score in 2020 when it was rated 54th.

Qatar was listed in the top 10 passports for investment in the first-ever Global Passport Index: the Investment Edition, along with its neighbors the UAE and Saudi Arabia, earlier this year.

The country has seen a substantial increase in real estate development and investment since a 2020 Cabinet announcement permitted non-Qatari investors to purchase residential and commercial properties in additional locations, making it a regional hub for people searching for a second home.

For the length of their ownership, residents will be allowed to live with them if their property is worth at least QR730,000 ($200,000).

On the other hand, persons who possess real estate worth at least $1 million will be eligible for permanent residence benefits like health care, access to education, and involvement in certain business ventures.

Mushaireb, Fareej Abdul Aziz, Doha Jadeeda, Al Ghanim Al Ateeq, Al Riffa and Al Hitmi Al Ateeq, and Aslata are among the 16 localities where non-Qataris are permitted to utilize or lease real estate for 99 years.

The Rawdat Al Khail, Mansoura, Fareej Bin Dirham, Najma, Umm Ghuwailina, Al Khalaifat, Al Sadd, Al Mirqab Al Jadeed, Fareej Al Nasr, and the area around the Doha International Airport are also included in this list.

The European Commission recently suggested eliminating the need for visas for citizens of Kuwait and Qatar. The EU would no longer require a visa for Qataris and Kuwaitis with biometric passports to enter for brief visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period for business, tourist, or family reasons.

The Henley & Partners index currently ranks Japan first with a visa-free or visa-on-arrival score of 193, followed by Singapore and South Korea in joint second place with a score of 192. The United Arab Emirates, which ranks 15th with a score of 176 for visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel, continues to be the strongest country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) area and the larger Arab world.

Top passports have virtually reached pre-pandemic levels of access, according to data by Henley & Partners.