GCC Unified Tourist Visa progressing toward 2025 rollout

Momentum continues to build around the implementation of a unified Gulf tourist visa, with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) confirming steady progress on the initiative’s technical framework. Speaking to Khaleej Times during the UAE Hospitality Summer Camp press conference, UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al-Marri shared encouraging updates on the project. “The single (GCC) tourist visa has been approved and waiting now to be implemented, hopefully soon. Now it is with the Ministry of Interior and the relevant stakeholders and they should look into it,” the Minister stated. Earlier this month, during the 164th GCC Ministerial Council meeting held in Kuwait, senior officials discussed regional cooperation, including the visa system. Following the session, GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi noted that the goal is to finalise and activate the unified visa mechanism by the end of 2025. Chaired by Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya, the meeting brought together representatives from member states to assess joint strategies in political and economic sectors. Al-Yahya called the discussions constructive, underscoring the shared commitment to regional integration. The GCC Unified Visa, also referred to as the “GCC Grand Tours Visa,” is expected to enable visitors to travel between all six member countries, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, under one visa. This model mirrors the European Schengen system, designed to facilitate ease of movement and enhance the region’s collective tourism appeal. While details are still being finalised, it is anticipated that the visa will allow for a stay of at least 30 days within the region. This is expected to not only promote multi-country travel but also increase tourist interest in destinations that currently attract fewer international visitors. At the same time, travelers will still be able to apply for a visa to enter a single GCC country, offering flexibility based on individual travel preferences. As the technical groundwork nears completion, the unified visa is seen as a landmark step toward stronger economic ties and tourism collaboration across the Gulf, signalling a new era of mobility and cooperation in the region.