Last checked: November 10, 2026. Labels: Stated = on an official government or tourism-authority website; Reported = from a third-party index (Mastercard-CrescentRating GMTI 2026); Not checked yet = we could not open an official source today, so we do not state a rule.
Short answer: the Muslim countries to visit that score highest for Muslim travelers in the Global Muslim Travel Index 2026 are Malaysia (#1), then Indonesia, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia (all #2), Qatar (#5) and the UAE (#6) (Reported). For a US passport, Türkiye is visa-free for up to 90 days, Qatar gives a visa on arrival, and Saudi Arabia has a tourist eVisa that also covers Umrah (Stated). Entry rules depend on your passport and change often, so check the official page in the table below right before you book.
Muslim countries to visit: rankings and entry rules at a glance
| Country | GMTI 2026 rank (of 150) | US passport, tourist trip | UK passport, tourist trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | #1 (Reported) | The United States is not on Malaysia’s visa-required list (Stated); length of stay not checked yet | No visa for tourism, normally 90 days on arrival (Stated) |
| Türkiye | #2 (Reported) | Visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period (Stated) | Visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; passport valid at least 150 days after arrival (Stated) |
| Indonesia | #2 (Reported) | Not checked yet | Visa needed: 30-day visa on arrival or an online visa; All Indonesia arrival card within 72 hours before arrival (Stated) |
| Saudi Arabia | #2 (Reported) | Tourist eVisa: the US is on the eligible list; one-year, multiple entry, up to 90 days; covers Umrah but not Hajj (Stated) | Visa needed: tourist e-visa (online or on arrival) valid 365 days, 90 days in total; separate visa for Hajj (Stated) |
| Qatar | #5 (Reported) | Visa on arrival, valid two years or until the passport expires, multiple entries, each stay up to 90 days; passport valid 3+ months and a confirmed hotel booking (Stated) | Tourist visa on arrival with a full British Citizen passport; stays over 30 days need an extension (Stated) |
| United Arab Emirates | #6 (Reported) | Not checked yet | Free visa on arrival, up to 90 days in a 180-day period (Stated) |
| Kuwait | #7 (Reported) | Not checked yet | Visa needed: on arrival or online (Stated) |
| Oman | #10 (Reported) | Eligible for the Qatar-Oman joint tourist visa, issued on arrival, 30 days (Stated, Visit Qatar); Oman’s own rule not checked yet | Up to 14 days without a visa (Stated) |
| Jordan | #12 (Reported) | Not checked yet | Visa on arrival (JOD 40, valid 3 months), or a Jordan Pass that includes the visa fee if you stay at least 3 nights (Stated) |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | #45 (Reported) | Not checked yet | Visa-free for up to 90 days within a 6-month period (Stated) |
Sources: GMTI 2026 destination profiles on CrescentRating for Malaysia, Indonesia, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan and Bosnia and Herzegovina. US rules: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Saudi tourist eVisa portal, Visit Qatar visa page, Immigration Department of Malaysia. UK rules: GOV.UK entry requirements for Malaysia, Türkiye, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan and Bosnia and Herzegovina. All opened November 10, 2026. For US rules marked “Not checked yet”, use the country page on travel.state.gov or the destination’s embassy in Washington.
How we picked these Muslim countries to visit
Most lists of Muslim-friendly countries repeat the same names with no way to check them. We used one public yardstick, the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2026, which scores 150 destinations on access, communication, environment and services for Muslim travelers (Reported). Then we added the one thing that decides whether a trip is easy: what your passport needs at the border, from the official source, with the date we read it.
A high GMTI score is a country-level signal, not a promise about your hotel. Halal food, prayer space and pool privacy still differ from one property to the next, which is why we check those per resort in our guides.
The 10 Muslim countries to visit, one by one
1. Malaysia
Malaysia ranks #1 of 150 in the GMTI 2026, with a score of 83 out of 100, the same position as in 2025 (Reported). For food ideas before you go, see our guide to halal street food in Malaysia.
2. Türkiye
Türkiye shares the #2 spot in the GMTI 2026 (Reported) and is visa-free for ordinary US passports for up to 90 days in any 180-day period (Stated). It is also the easiest of these countries for a beach-and-city mix: start with our halal travel guide to Turkey and our halal holidays in Istanbul guide.
3. Indonesia
Indonesia also ranks #2 in the GMTI 2026 (Reported). UK travelers need a visa: a 30-day visa on arrival or an online visa, plus the free All Indonesia arrival card within 72 hours before landing (Stated, GOV.UK). We did not open an official page for US passports today. For beaches, see our Muslim-friendly beach holidays in Bali and Lombok.
4. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia ranks #2 in the GMTI 2026 (Reported). Its official portal offers a one-year, multiple-entry tourist eVisa with stays of up to 90 days, and lists Umrah (excluding Hajj) as an allowed activity; the United States is on the eligible list (Stated). Our Umrah and tourist visa guide explains the routes, and Saudi Arabia beyond Umrah covers where else to go.
5. Qatar
Qatar ranks #5 in the GMTI 2026 (Reported). Visit Qatar states that “U.S citizens will receive a visa valid for two years, or until the passport expires, whichever comes first enabling multiple entries, with each stay up to 90 days”, with a passport valid for at least three months and a confirmed hotel booking (Stated). That makes Doha an easy stopover on the way to Asia or Africa.
6. United Arab Emirates
The UAE ranks #6 in the GMTI 2026 (Reported). UK passport holders get a free visa on arrival for up to 90 days in a 180-day period (Stated, GOV.UK); we could not open the official UAE page for US passports today. For where to stay, see our halal-friendly resorts in Dubai.
7. Kuwait
Kuwait ranks #7 in the GMTI 2026 (Reported). UK travelers need a visa, available on arrival or online (Stated, GOV.UK). The US rule was not checked today.
8. Oman
Oman ranks #10 in the GMTI 2026 (Reported). UK travelers can stay up to 14 days without a visa (Stated, GOV.UK). US citizens are on the eligibility list for the Qatar-Oman joint tourist visa, which Visit Qatar says is issued on arrival and valid for 30 days in both countries (Stated). Oman’s own US rule was not checked today.
9. Jordan
Jordan ranks #12 in the GMTI 2026 (Reported). UK travelers can buy a single-entry visa on arrival for JOD 40, or a Jordan Pass that includes the visa fee if they stay at least 3 nights (Stated, GOV.UK, November 10, 2026). The US rule was not checked today.
10. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks #45 in the GMTI 2026 (Reported), well below the others, but it is one of the few Muslim countries to visit in Europe. UK travelers can stay up to 90 days within a 6-month period without a visa (Stated, GOV.UK). The US rule was not checked today.
Muslim countries to visit with family, in Europe, or in winter
- With family: the country matters less than the resort. Compare kids’ clubs, halal food and pool rules in our all-inclusive halal family resorts guide.
- In Europe: Türkiye and Bosnia and Herzegovina are the two options on this list; both are visa-free for UK passports (Stated), and Türkiye is also visa-free for US passports (Stated).
- In December or around Eid: entry rules don’t change with the season, but demand does. Check the dates in our Eid al-Fitr 2027 holidays guide before you lock in flights.
- Traveling alone as a woman: see our guide to countries Muslim women choose for solo travel.
Which Muslim country fits you?
- You want no visa paperwork on a US passport: Türkiye (visa-free) or Qatar (visa on arrival).
- You want to combine a holiday with Umrah: Saudi Arabia’s tourist eVisa covers Umrah outside the Hajj season; read our Umrah visa guide first.
- You choose by food: our holiday destinations with halal food guide compares where eating halal is simplest.
- You have a long layover: use our airport prayer rooms guide and check airlines with halal meals.
Questions to ask before you book
- What does my exact passport need, according to the official source, today?
- How many months must my passport still be valid on arrival, and do I need a blank page?
- Is there an online arrival card or declaration to fill in before the flight?
- Is all the food at my hotel halal, or only some of it, and is alcohol served on the property?
For the hotel part, use our full checklist: questions to ask a halal resort before you book.
FAQ
What is the best Muslim country to visit?
By the Global Muslim Travel Index 2026, Malaysia ranks #1 of 150 destinations, followed by Indonesia, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, which share #2 (Reported). The best choice for you also depends on your passport, budget and the kind of trip you want.
Which Muslim countries can US citizens visit without applying for a visa in advance?
From the official pages we opened on November 10, 2026: Türkiye is visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and Qatar issues US citizens a visa on arrival (Stated). Malaysia does not list the United States among the countries that need a visa (Stated). For other countries, check travel.state.gov before you book.
Can I do Umrah on a Saudi tourist visa?
Yes. Saudi Arabia’s official eVisa portal lists Umrah (excluding Hajj) among the activities the tourist visa allows (Stated). Hajj needs a separate visa. Details are in our Umrah visa guide.
