Al Arabiya: The United Arab Emirates has emerged as the most powerful passport of the year, granting citizens access to 179 countries without the need for visa prior to arrival, according to The Passport Index by Arton Capital. The UAE took pole position ahead of Germany, Finland, Luxembourg, and Spain, all who placed in second. Third place consisted of 10 countries including the US, Austria, Switzerland, and South Korea. The figures came as The Passport Index released a report titled “The Greatest Passports of the Decade,” which looked at passports that have gained the most access over the past 10 years. Earlier this year when the UAE reached a score of 176, Armand Arton, founder and president of Arton capital, called the move “something unprecedented.” Over the past decade, the UAE has experienced a 161 percent increase in passport power, placing it first among greatest gainers between 2010 and 2019. The Passport Index calculated the passports of 199 countries and territories, and ranks their “Mobility Score” based on how many countries an individual holding a particular passport could enter visa-free or with a visa on arrival.