Decade Movers: Record Climbers, Famous Fallers

Since 2016 the UAE rocketed from 38th to 2nd and Kosovo jumped 38 places, while 2014–15 champions the US and UK slid to 10th and 7th.

The top 3

  1. UAE: The Biggest Climb in Index History: The UAE surged from 38th in 2016 to 2nd in 2026, adding 149 visa-free destinations since 2006 — the largest gain ever recorded on the index.
  2. Quiet Climbers: Kosovo +38, China +28: Over the past decade Kosovo climbed 38 places (97th to 59th, gaining 43 destinations) and China rose 28 places (87th to 59th, gaining 31).
  3. From First to Fringe: The US and UK Slide: The US, No. 1 in 2014, fell out of the top 10 for the first time in 20 years in late 2025 before edging back to 10th (179 destinations), while 2015 champion the UK sits 7th after shedding 7 destinations — its steepest annual loss.

Sources

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