The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries – United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman – is set to introduce the GCC unified visa system for travel across the region.
The proposed GCC Unified Tourist Visa, dubbed the “GCC Grand Tours” visa, will work much like the Schengen system in Europe. The aim is to eliminate the need for separate visa applications for each country across the GCC.
The idea, which has been in the pipeline for a few years now, is aimed at accelerating the Gulf’s fast-growing tourism industry, which is projected to contribute $340 billion to GDP across the region by 2030 according to Economy Middle east Magazine.
It’s worth mentioning that the concept of a unified GCC tourist visa is not entirely new, as discussions and plans have been in the works for several years.
However, the recent unanimous approval by the GCC ministers marks a substantial milestone for the new visa system. It’s now a matter of when it will be launched, not if.
"In a significant move aimed at simplifying travel logistics and fostering tourism, the Gulf Cooperation Council has given the green light to a unified GCC tourist visa that will allow travelers to visit all six countries," explained Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE's economy minister, during a recent Arabian Travel Market (ATM) event.
If everything goes according to plan, the new visa could be up and running by the end of December 2024.
The GCC’s tourism industry has grown rapidly in recent years, with international arrivals in the first seven months of 2024 rocketing by 26% compared to the same period in 2019.
Nations across the region are building plans to support tourism in the years ahead. For example, Saudi Arabia has been leveraging its ambitious Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy away from oil dependency, focusing heavily on developing its tourism sector. The Kingdom welcomed a record-breaking 20 million tourist visits in 2024, up from 17.5 million in 2023 and 15 million in 2022.
The UAE also continues to be a magnet for tourists, with Dubai’s tourist numbers hitting record numbers in Q1 2024.
In Qatar, the FIFA World Cup 2022 served as a landmark event in Gulf history – and continued a trend of the region hosting headline sporting events. The country has successfully maintained tourist momentum, with 4.5 million visitors visiting in 2024, up from 4 million in 2023 and 3.5 million in 2022.
Tourist interest in the GCC is undoubtedly on the rise, but moving from one country to another in the region is a nuisance. Currently, tourists hoping to visit two or more GCC nations must apply for individual visas for each stop.
This means filling out volumes of paperwork, submitting documents, paying fees, and waiting – a tedious and confusing process.
The wait can drag on for weeks, and in many cases, travelers are forced to hand over their passports for processing. It’s far from ideal in a region that intends to position itself as a global tourism hub.
It's against this backdrop that the GCC is gearing up to launch the new unified GCC Grand Tours tourist visa.
Here’s everything we know about the GCC Grand Tours visa so far:
The Grand Tours visa application process and requirements remain undisclosed. Some sources speculate that travelers will need a valid passport to apply for the visa, valid for at least six months beyond the intended departure date, and confirmed accommodation in the country(s) they wish to visit.
Tourism leaders across the Gulf region are eager to capitalize on the area's growing reputation as a global travel hotspot.
With an impressive track record of hosting major international events and a rapidly expanding tourism infrastructure, the unified visa is anticipated to attract more high-profile events and concerts to the region.
According to Forbes, Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, shared that the region's tourism leaders are eyeing the possibility of hosting a ‘Taylor Swift-style Arabian tour,’ which would be a massive boost to the region's cultural and entertainment offerings.
"We can easily see a big shift from Med to Red," Hamidaddin added at the ATM event, referring to the potential increase in cruise tourism in the Red Sea region.
Practically any form of tourism initiative that involves collaboration across the GCC will benefit from the new visa system. According to Zawya, tour companies are already building tour packages that take advantage of the new visa.
While citizens of GCC countries can often travel freely between member states using just their national ID cards, the rules for non-citizen residents are currently more restrictive.
For example, expatriate residents of the UAE must obtain an entry permit before traveling to other GCC countries. This permit is valid for 30 days and can be extended once for an additional 30 days.
By contrast, the EU’s system grants EU citizens a high degree of freedom to move, live, and work across member states without permits. Even for non-EU nationals with long-term residency, the EU has implemented steps to simplify mobility, offering a model of integration and ease that the GCC aspires to achieve.
While the GCC Grand Tours visa’s specific impact on residents remains unclear, a unified visa system could reduce the current travel friction.
"Hopefully, we are going to see something around a pan-GCC visa which will allow easier mobility of people within the GCC," as Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE's economy minister, has previously stated, according to Timeout.
"A resident of Saudi, for instance, can enter the UAE and vice versa. I think that's where we see the future of GCC tourism."
This suggests that the new GCC Grand Tours visa could streamline travel for millions of expatriate residents across the Gulf region.
It won’t just save time for travelers but also for national authorities, who will no longer need to assess visa applications for travel across the region.
As the GCC countries continue to invest in their tourism infrastructure and work towards greater integration, the introduction of the GCC Grand Tours visa marks a significant milestone in the region's tourism strategy.
The unified tourist visa GCC is set to streamline travel logistics, boost tourism, and provide visitors with a seamless experience as they explore the diverse offerings of the Gulf states.
With the GCC Grand Tours visa, the future of travel in the region looks promising, and the Gulf is poised to cement its position as a top global destination for tourists seeking unique, memorable experiences.
