To promote Middle Eastern tourism, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has officially approved a unified tourist visa that is likely to permit international travelers to explore all six member states—UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait—with a single-entry permit. The visa, dubbed the “GCC Grand Tours Visa,” is now in the final stages of execution, as per the UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri.
“The single GCC tourist visa has been ratified and is now awaiting further execution. It is currently with the Ministry of Interior and relevant authorities for final procedures,” said Al Marri during a hospitality event in the UAE.
What the Unified Visa Means for Tourists
This new system is just like the Schengen visa is likely to permit flawless and easy travel across multiple nations within the GCC region. Tourists will now have no requirement to apply for separate visas to visit neighboring countries, simplifying travel logistics and opening the door for longer, multi-country travel agendas.
• Encourages ‘bleisure’ travel—a mixture of business and leisure
• Grabs the attention of longer-stay tourists and multi-destination travelers
• Minimizes bureaucratic issues and visa costs for visitors
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What will be the Economic and Tourism Impacts?
Undoubtedly, the unified visa is expected to significantly boost regional tourism and job creation, particularly in the post-COVID era when Gulf nations are highly involved in diversification of their economies beyond oil.
• In 2023, the GCC welcomed 68.1 million tourists, producing $110.4 billion in revenue—a 42.8% increase from pre-pandemic 2019.
• The UAE’s tourism sector employed 833,000 people in 2023, and this number is anticipated to cross 1 million before 2030.
• Dubai, which is considered to be the region’s tourism hub, warmly welcomed 7.15 million visitors in just the time duration of first four months of 2025, reflecting a strong upward trend.
A New Era for Gulf Tourism
Experts keep on claiming that the visa is about to establish a more integrated tourism ecosystem, enabling the region to position itself as a global tourism powerhouse. Moreover, it is also going to support GCC nations in
- Hosting major events
- Attracting international conferences
- Sharing tourism infrastructure more efficiently.
This unified visa not only makes the travel process simple but also signals deeper cooperation among Gulf nations, marking a step toward regional unity and global tourism leadership.