Bahrain has maintained its ranking in a new global passport index that informs citizens about the value of the travel document, its privileges and personal freedom.
The latest Nomad Passport Index 2025 released yesterday ranks 199 countries and territories, using different parameters such as taxation, relying on the World Happiness Report and the United Nations’ Human Development Index for perception rankings.
In addition, other parameters include the ability to hold dual citizenship and personal freedom of citizens, travellers and expats.
Ireland has the strongest passport in the world, followed by Switzerland and Greece (both in second spot) and Portugal.
Among the Gulf countries, UAE is ranked at the 10th spot, Oman (89), Qatar (96), Kuwait (97), Bahrain (103) and Saudi Arabia (110).
Bahrain’s passport ranking is higher than Indonesia (114), China (119), Morocco (123), the Philippines (125), Azerbaijan (125), India (148), Egypt (154) and Jordan (156).
“Bahrain’s passport ranking relative to other global passports is calculated by relying on the government’s approach not just to travel, but also to international taxation laws, global perception, dual citizenship and personal freedom,” stated the index.
Bahraini passport holders can enter a total of 100 destinations — either without a visa, through a visa on arrival, or via an electronic travel authorisation, eTA.
There are 150 additional destinations where Bahraini passport-holders either need a physical visa to enter or an eVisa.
Bahrain was ranked at 103 in the 2024 report, 99 in 2023 and 104 in 2022 by Nomad Capitalist, a boutique tax and immigration consultancy that has a headquarter in Dubai.
“In a turbulent year marked by shifting geopolitics and policy upheaval, Greece surged dramatically from sixth into joint second with Switzerland, reflecting its growing credibility among high-net-worth individuals, retirees and global investors,” according to the rankings.
The weakest passports on the list, ranked from 195 to 199, are Pakistan, Iraq, Eritrea, Yemen and Afghanistan.
The GDN reported that Bahrain’s e-passport won the international Reddot Design Award 2024.
The passport launched in 2023 showcases Bahrain’s distinctive Arab characteristics, embodied in the image of an Arabian horse and a falcon. It is distinguished by its style, which tells stories from the history of Bahrain, as it is a centre for the pearl trade. It also displays recent achievements and the future vision of the kingdom.
The e-passport also won three gold and seven silver awards at the London Design Awards, which is an international competition that recognises designs that are truly exceptional in the visualisation of creative influence.
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