Emirates ranked among world’s top 10 countries for “soft power”
The United Arab Emirates has become one of the world’s top 10 countries in terms of “soft power”, which measures a country’s ability to influence others through persuasion rather than coercion, according to the annual Global Soft Power Index ranking.
The United States, the United Kingdom and Germany retained the top positions in the ranking. The Emirates, in turn, turned out to be the Middle Eastern leader, taking 10th place in the global ranking.
In particular, the country has increased its influence in diplomatic circles thanks to the World Expo 2020, where it has established itself as a global trade hub.
The UAE has also become one of the most generous countries in terms of humanitarian aid (third in the world), as well as ranked third in the world in terms of economic growth potential.
Planning a mission to Mars and preparations for the Cop28 climate summit helped the Emirates score extra points.
UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr Thani Al Zeyudi has stated that the country’s policy is to have few enemies, take a neutral stance and look for partners in different parts of the world. It is worth noting that Saudi Arabia moved up in the ranking to 19th place, while Qatar, which hosted the FIFA World Cup, moved up to 24th.
The United Arab Emirates passport was previously recognised as the most influential globally – up 30 points in the region compared to last year, according to a ranking by offshore consultancy firm Nomad Capitalist.
The Emirati passport ranked 35th in 2022, with visa-free entry to 181 countries worldwide, no income taxes and a recognised reputation helping it to rise to the top spot.
Whereas the Henley Passport Index ranking assesses only visa-free passport opportunities, the Nomad Passport Index ranking is based on five criteria, including visa-free travel, taxation of citizens, perception of the country in the world, willingness to grant dual citizenship and personal freedom.
It is worth noting that the United Arab Emirates was the only Middle Eastern country represented in the ranking. Passports of Luxembourg, Switzerland, Ireland and Portugal also entered the top five.
Source: The National
Follow our Telegram Chanel
