The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have officially approved a unified tourist visa. This visa also known as the GCC Grand Tours Visa. It will allow visitors to freely travel across all six member states—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman—with a single visa. This visa, styled after the European Schengen visa, promises to greatly simplify travel throughout the Gulf area. This unified tourist visa also boosting tourism and economic growth.
GCC Grand Tours Visa visa, which was announced in November 2023 and formally authorized by all GCC interior ministries by mid-2025. The unified visa is scheduled to be launched by the early 2026 if minor delays occur. The consolidated visa will be valid for stays of 30 to 90 days. It is likely to cover tourism and family visits, but not employment or long-term residency.
Gulf leaders:
GCC Secretary General Jassem Al Budaiwi noted that the GCC Grand Tours Visa is consistent with the Gulf leaders’ aim of strengthening regional integration and cooperation. The system will include cutting-edge technologies to fulfill changing global security standards. UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al-Marri stated that the visa will be an important instrument in recruiting and maintaining foreign tourists, promoting longer stays, and driving economic growth throughout member states.
Until the official rollout, visitors with GCC Grand Tours Visa applications must follow current procedures. They should keep an eye on official updates from GCC governments and ministries of interior for fresh guidance. The GCC’s unified visa system aspires to pioneer regional collaboration in travel facilitation. It is potentially serving as a model for other areas throughout the world.
The formal launch date of GCC Grand Tours Visa has yet to be announced. However it is largely expected to occur before 2026, marking an important milestone in GCC integration and tourism development.
