The UAE has ranked fifth globally – and first among Middle East nations – while Qatar and Saudi Arabia have also made it into the top 10 passports in terms of investment opportunities, according the first-ever Global Passport Index: the Investment Edition released by Global Citizen Solutions.
The Global Passport Index presents an assessment of a country’s economy and business environment and offers a comprehensive overview of a country’s investment opportunities.
The ranking determines how attractive a passport is for investment opportunities abroad. It ascertains how with the right passport, investors can undertake business freely and enjoy advantageous tax schemes.
Additionally, an investor-friendly passport is considered a viable option for those looking to safeguard their financial freedoms abroad.
Singapore tops the ranking, followed by Hong Kong and Macao – marking the Asian market as the most favourable for investment opportunities.
In order, the top 10 passports for investment opportunities are:
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
- Macao
- United States of America
- United Arab Emirates
- Monaco
- Qatar
- Andorra
- Switzerland
- Saudi Arabia
Methodology for the Global Passport Index ranking
Global Citizen Solutions enlisted quantitative analysts Dr Roberto de Pinho and Vladimir Lopez-Bassols, who have extensive experience in international organisations, analysing big data projects for the likes of UNESCO, OECD, and Inter-American Development Bank, to develop a methodology able to determine the best passport for investment opportunities.
The Investment Index assesses a country’s economy so that users can see a comprehensive overview of the investment opportunities available.
The indicators used to determine the strongest passport in the world for investment opportunities, include:
- Global competitiveness (sometimes referred to as markets and innovation) – weighted at 50 percent
- GNI (Gross National Income per Capita) – weighted at 25 percent
- Personal Taxation – weighted at 25 percent
To determine the business climate in a country, six pillars from the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index were chosen, including the financial system, market size, business dynamism, product market, labour market, and innovation capability.
Singapore emerges as the best passport in Global Citizen Solution´s Investment Index. With one the world´s highest GNI per capita at $92.270 and personal taxation at 22 percent, the city-state is considered one of the most favourable options for investors.
The city-state is a financial cornerstone for trade, and, alongside this, the country offers a progressive legal and regulatory framework, with a well-developed infrastructure. These factors make Singapore an attractive honeypot for investors.
“The strongest passports in the world for investment opportunities tend to have some similar trends. Each has a relatively stable economic system, which makes it easier for foreigners to do business,” said Patricia Casaburi, the managing director of Global Citizen Solutions.
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