2026 data
South Korea vs United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates is stronger · +2 visa-free destinations
Comparing the two in 2026: the South Korea passport gives access to 166 destinations without a prior visa (#2 worldwide), while United Arab Emirates reaches 168 (#1). In practice, United Arab Emirates gets you visa-free to 2 more destinations.
Side-by-side comparison
South Korea
United Arab Emirates
Visa-free destinations
166
168
Voyspark Index rank
#2
#1
Visa-free
116
127
Visa on arrival
41
36
Electronic auth (eTA)
9
5
e-Visa
17
16
Visa required
#15
#14
Popular destinations visa-free for one but visa-required for the other.
Where South Korea reaches further
Access by region, side by side
Visa-free for both: destinations open to both passports.
Europe46 · 46 / 46
Africa32 · 38 / 54
Americas33 · 30 / 35
Asia29 · 27 / 34
Middle East12 · 14 / 14
Oceania13 · 12 / 14
Frequently asked questions
Which is stronger, South Korea or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates is stronger. South Korea reaches 166 destinations visa-free; United Arab Emirates, 168.
How many destinations can both enter visa-free?
154 destinations are open without a prior visa to both passports in 2026.
Where does each passport reach further?
South Korea wins in 2 and United Arab Emirates in 0 among popular destinations. The full list is above.