Dubai - France’s quality of nationality is the best in the world, according to the 3rd edition of the Henley & Partners – Kochenov Quality of Nationality Index (QNI), which was launched in London today. The French nationality earned a score of 81.7% out of a possible 100%, fractionally ahead of Germany, which was knocked off the top spot for the first time in seven years, with a score of 81.6%. While the difference between France’s and Germany’s results is relatively small, France’s comparative advantage lies in its greater Settlement Freedom (attributable mainly to the country’s former colonial empire). Iceland and Denmark took 3rd and 4th place, respectively, on this year’s Index, which is the only one of its kind that objectively measures and ranks all the world’s nationalities as legal statuses through which to develop your talents and business.
In the latest edition of QNI, the UAE nationality has significantly outperformed to become the leading nationality in the entire MENA region constituting of 20 countries and surpassing its previous ranking of being the best performing within the GCC. The Emirati nationality now occupies 46th position out of 167 nationalities listed in the index, having climbed three positions year-on-year, and 13 positions over the past five years. The UAE nationality made a significant leap forward when its holders received visa-free travel access to the Schengen Area in 2016.
Commenting on the UAE’s ranking, Marco Gantenbein, Managing Partner of Henley & Partners Dubai, said: "It is no surprise that the UAE nationality is the leading nationality in the GCC and the wider MENA region. Although the quality of life in the country has consistently improved with each passing year, in recent times it has been more vigorous than before. This is because the UAE government has implemented several citizen-centric and public-sector initiatives including the National Happiness and Positivity program, the formation of the Artificial Intelligence Council, all of which has seen a constructive influence in enhancing the nation’s public policy and citizen experience. Also, with the World Expo 2020 coming up and major infrastructure development projects underway or announced, the possibilities for personal growth and career development remains very strong in the UAE.
“The UAE’s soft power has also seen tremendous growth, which arises from its strong trade relations with other world economies as evident from the recent visa waiver agreements with Ireland and China. All of these factors demonstrate the diverse and high quality opportunities that a UAE national has access to."
The MENA region
The average value of GCC nationalities on the QNI General Ranking is 36.12%. This is substantially higher than the Middle Eastern average of 28.24%. The quality of GCC nationalities varies between 45.8% (UAE) and 33.6% (Oman), while the nationalities of the remaining Middle Eastern countries see a wider divide in rankings with Turkey holding the 83rd spot (35.4%), Syrian Arab Republic at 162nd position (16.8%), and Iraq at 165th spot (15.1%) on the QNI.
The Kuwaiti nationality experienced a modest loss in value in 2017, dropping 10 positions in the General Ranking, partly because other nationalities performed much better in areas such as Peace and Stability, Diversity of Travel of Freedom and Diversity of Settlement Freedom. With its external value remaining roughly equal, the level of Human Development in Kuwait decreased slightly from 0.816 to 0.800 on the HDI. Peace and Stability also decreased measurably, from 1.842 in 2016 to 1.909 in 2017. The Kuwaiti nationality fell from 72nd place (37.0%) to 82nd place (35.7%), witnessing further downward trajectory over the past five years.
The rankings of other GCC nationalities include: Saudi Arabia on the 89th spot, and Bahrain and Oman both occupying the 90th spot.
Nationality ranking of world’s major economies
The UK dropped down a position to 13th place, again failing to secure a spot in the top 10, while the US increased its position by two ranks, claiming 27th place, with the country’s relatively poor standing on the Index primarily due to its low Settlement Freedom compared to EU member states. China climbed two places to rank 59th, and Russia maintained its position at 63rd place on the Index.
Prof. Dr. Dimitry Kochenov, a leading constitutional and citizenship law professor and co-creator of the Index, says the key premise of the QNI is that it is possible to compare the relative worth of nationalities as opposed to simply that of states. “In today’s globalized world, the legal status of millions of nationals extends their opportunities and desires far beyond their countries of origin: the confines of the state are simply not the limit of their ambitions and expectations. Using a sophisticated combination of quantifiable data derived from leading international institutions and experts, including the United Nations, the World Bank, and the International Air Transport Association, the QNI measures the internal value of nationality, which refers to the quality of life and opportunities for personal growth within our country of origin, as well as the external value of nationality, which identifies the diversity and quality of opportunities that our nationality allows us to pursue outside our country of origin.”
According to Prof. Kochenov, the QNI’s combined methodology produces a clear and objective account of what our nationalities can do for us within the borders of our home country and of where they can take us abroad. The Index’s findings have important and far-reaching implications: “Firstly, the QNI proves that one cannot possibly be correct in stating that all nationalities and passports are equally good. Some nationalities are radically better than others: being born French gives one a huge advantage over the liability brought about by a Somalian nationality, for example. With the QNI, illustrating this discrepancy becomes simple.
“Secondly, the QNI proves that it is not true that the most prosperous and economically important countries endow their citizens with the best nationalities: while China is an economic giant, its nationality has a very modest objective value, and while Liechtenstein has a micro-economy compared to that of China, its nationality is world-leading. Some nationalities are great, while others are quite simply terrible. Now, we can see which is which.”
The broad spectrum of global nationality
Dr. Christian H. Kälin, co-creator of the QNI and Group Chairman of Henley & Partners, says the Index is highly relevant to individuals interested in understanding the circumstances associated with their nationality, as well as to governments looking to improve the local, regional, and global reach of the nationalities they provide.
“It is clear that our nationalities have a direct impact on our opportunities and on our freedom to travel, do business, and live longer, healthier, and more rewarding lives,” Kälin says. “The reality that the QNI describes is, in many respects, regrettable: in the majority of circumstances, our nationality plays an important role in establishing a highly irrational ceiling for our opportunities and aspirations. An exception to the rule is the expansive freedom of movement and settlement enjoyed by nationals of France, the Netherlands, and Finland, among others. These are the most globally integrated citizenships in the world, turning the national borders of roughly one quarter of the world’s states into myths for their holders and liberating their citizens from imaginary geographical limitations. For the many individuals who do not automatically enjoy such boundless levels of access and mobility, residence and citizenship programs provide an alternative path to freedom. The appeal of this option is growing each year.”
Kälin adds that governments are increasingly embracing residence- and citizenship-by-investment as a means of stimulating economic development and growth. In addition, more and more wealthy and talented individuals are seeking to diversify their citizenship portfolios to give themselves and their family’s greater international opportunity and security. “Alternative citizenship represents the most direct route to global mobility, connectivity, and access. The QNI is the most indispensable reference tool and resource when selecting the most valuable second or third nationality to acquire.”
Key findings
- The French nationality stands at the top of the QNI General Ranking, with a score of 81.7%, while the Somalian nationality lies at the bottom, with 13.4%.
- The global mean this year was 39.28%, an incremental decrease from last year’s average of 39.32%.
- In 13th place, the UK narrowly misses the top 10 but still makes it into the Extremely High Quality tier, with a score of 78.2%.
- The US has again only managed to secure a spot in the Very High Quality tier, but it did increase its position by two ranks, claiming 27th place and scoring 69.4%.
- 26 nationalities fall in the Extremely High Quality tier (75.00% and above); 23 nationalities fall in the Very High Quality tier (between 50.00% and 74.99%); 50 nationalities fall in the High Quality tier (between 35.00% and 49.99%); 96 nationalities fall in the Medium Quality tier (between 20.00% and 34.99%); and 14 nationalities fall in the Low Quality tier (below 19.99%).
- Malta and Latvia moved down from Extremely High Quality to Very High Quality; Andorra moved down from High Quality to Very High Quality; Ukraine and Georgia moved up from Medium Quality to High Quality; and Djibouti moved up from Low Quality to Medium Quality.
Top risers 2016–2017
- The Georgian nationality experienced a spectacular rise of 20 positions, from 104th position on last year’s General Ranking to 84th position this year. Its improved ranking was mainly caused by a significant increase in visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel destinations, linked to its 2017 visa-waiver with the Schengen Area.
- The Ukrainian nationality experienced a similar dramatic rise, from 99th position in 2016 to 80th position in 2017, also as a result of visa-liberalization with the Schengen Area. Consequently, the Ukrainian nationality recovers towards the positions it occupied on the 2013 and 2014 QNI General Rankings (75th place with 32.8% in 2013, and 79th place with 32.3% in 2014), although the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine continues to compromise the nationality’s Peace and Stability score.
- In the Seychelles, Human Development increased slightly, and the country gained five additional visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel destinations. As a result, the Seychelles nationality’s value increased by 2.6%. Gaining six positions, it entered the top 50 of the 2017 General Ranking in 49th position.
- In 2016, the Emirati nationality made a significant leap forward when its holders received visa-free travel access to the Schengen Area. The nationality of the United Arab Emirates continued this trend in 2017 with an additional 10 visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel destinations, now boasting 140 such destinations in total. As a result, it pushes further into the world’s top 50, moving from 49th place in 2016 to 46th place in 2017.
Risers and fallers 2013–2017
The value of the Colombian nationality has improved spectacularly over the past five years, during which period it has jumped from 111th place (26.1%) to 61st place (40.7%). While Human Development increased slightly, and Peace and Stability decreased somewhat, Colombian nationals have experienced a major improvement in Travel Freedom. In 2013, they had visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel access to 59 destinations, compared to 112 destinations in 2017, including the countries in the Schengen Area (as of 3 December 2015). The success story of the Colombian nationality over all the years of QNI measurement turns Colombia into the poster child of how to ensure constant improvement in the quality of nationality.
As Libya has further destabilized over the past five years, its nationality has lost value on all the parameters of the QNI. Human Development, Economic Strength, and Peace and Stability have deteriorated substantially. While the global trend has definitely been increased visa liberalization, Libyan nationals went from having 39 visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel destinations in 2013 to having 38 such destinations in 2017. All in all, the nationality dropped in value from 22.4% in 2013 to 21.1% in 2017, only just staying in the Medium Quality tier.
The nationality of Syria continues to suffer from the country’s ongoing civil war. With Syria’s economy destroyed, and Peace and Stability at an all-time low in 2017, Human Development has also decreased dramatically. Diversity of Travel Freedom also decreased from 37 to only 31 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations. Overall, the nationality’s value has dropped from 19.8% to 16.8%, moving it from 138th place in 2013 to 162nd place in 2017.
-Ends-
About the Henley & Partners – Kochenov Quality of Nationality Index (QNI)
The QNI provides a comprehensive ranking of the quality of nationalities worldwide. To ensure a high level of reliability, a wide variety of strictly quantifiable data is used to gauge the opportunities and limitations that our nationalities impose on us. For that purpose, the QNI measures both the internal value of nationality, which refers to the quality of life and opportunities for personal growth within our country of origin, and the external value of nationality, which identifies the diversity and quality of opportunities that our nationality allows us to pursue outside our country of origin.
All the sources used are objectively verifiable and build on data collected by leading international institutions and experts with impeccable reputations. The QNI will be of interest to anyone who is curious about how their nationality performs in comparison to other nationalities and about the local, regional, and global opportunities and limitations associated with their nationality. The Index is of particular significance to financially independent individuals who wish to acquire the benefits of alternative citizenship: these individuals can use the QNI as a reference tool when selecting the most valuable second or third nationality for themselves and their families.
Infographics, graphs, and expert commentary
QNI infographics, radar graphs, and expert commentary essays are available for download on the Henley & Partners website (https://www.henleyglobal.com/quality-of-nationality/) as well as on the QNI website (https://www.nationalityindex.com/).
About the creators of the QNI
Prof. Dr. Dimitry Kochenov holds a Chair in EU Constitutional Law at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and chairs the Investment Migration Council, Geneva, Switzerland. He has held numerous fellowships and visiting professorships worldwide, including at Princeton University (Crane Fellowship in Law and Public Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School and Visiting Professorship at the Center for Human Values), NYU School of Law (Emile Noël Fellowship), Boston College Law School (Senior Clough Fellowship), Basel Institute for European Global Studies, and Osaka Graduate School of Law and Politics, as well as a Visiting Chair in Private Law (Citizenship) at the University of Turin, Italy. He publishes widely on different aspects of comparative and European citizenship law and migration regulation, and he consults for governments and international organizations on EU constitutional law and citizenship issues. Prof. Kochenov’s latest edited volumes include EU Citizenship and Federalism: The Role of Rights (Cambridge University Press, 2017) and The Enforcement of EU Law and Values (Oxford University Press, 2017, with András Jakab, University of Salzburg).
Dr. Christian H. Kälin, TEP, IMCM, Chairman of Henley & Partners, is considered one of the world’s foremost experts in investor immigration and citizenship by investment, a field he pioneered. Holding master’s and PhD degrees in law from the University of Zurich, he is a sought-after speaker and advises governments and international organizations. He is the author, co-author or editor of many publications, including standard works such as the Global Residence and Citizenship Handbook, the Henley & Partners – Kochenov Quality of Nationality Index, and the Switzerland Business & Investment Handbook.
About Henley & Partners
Henley & Partners is the global leader in residence and citizenship planning. Each year, hundreds of wealthy individuals and their advisors rely on our expertise and experience in this area. The firm’s highly qualified professionals work together as one team in over 30 offices worldwide.
The concept of residence and citizenship planning was created by Henley & Partners in the 1990s. As globalization has expanded, residence and citizenship have become topics of significant interest among the increasing number of internationally mobile entrepreneurs and investors whom we proudly serve every day.
The firm also runs a leading government advisory practice that has raised more than USD 7 billion in foreign direct investment. The firm has been involved in strategic consulting and in the design, set-up, and operation of the world’s most successful residence and citizenship programs.
Media contact
For further information and interview requests, or to obtain a copy of the report, please contact:
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© Press Release 2018
