Islamabad(Mudassar Iqbal)-The UAE passport has retained its position as the world’s most powerful for the fourth consecutive year, according to the latest passport index. This prestigious ranking is attributed to the UAE passport’s unparalleled visa-free access to 133 countries, accounting for approximately 90% of global destinations.
The top five positions in the ranking were dominated by European nations, with Spain, Finland, France, and Germany securing the second to fifth spots, respectively.
In contrast, the UK passport experienced a significant decline, dropping from 22nd to 32nd place. Despite retaining visa-free access to 118 countries, UK citizens were surpassed by several nations in the ranking.
The list of the 30 most powerful passports featured prominent countries such as Belgium, Italy, Denmark, and South Korea. Notably, Japan, previously a top-ranking nation, appeared in the latter half of the top 30.
This ranking serves as a testament to the UAE’s diplomatic efforts and its growing influence on the global stage.
Earlier,
The UAE announced its public holidays for 2025, offering at least 12 days off, with an additional day if Ramadan spans 30 days, as it did in 2024.
The official gazette published the decision in May following a review of federal laws in the UAE Constitution.
A new resolution under UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 introduced changes to public holiday scheduling. If a holiday coincides with a weekend, it “may be carried over by a Cabinet decision to the beginning or end of the week.” However, Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha will not be subject to this rule.
The resolution allows extra flexibility for weekends. For example, if the Islamic New Year fell on a Saturday or Sunday, a day off could be observed on the preceding Friday or following Monday.
Labour relations, human resources, and public holiday regulations underwent comprehensive reviews, resulting in this resolution. Public holidays apply uniformly to the private and public sectors.
The revised rules will come into effect from January 1, 2025. While many holiday dates depend on moon sightings, the confirmed occasions include New Year’s Day on January 1 and National Day on December 2 and 3.
Predicted public holidays for Eidul Fitr, Arafat Day, Eid Al Adha, and the Islamic New Year span various dates throughout the year, with potential long weekends based on moon phases.
Local governments retain the authority to approve additional holidays beyond the national framework.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.