emirates7 - The GCC Unified Tourist Visa, known as “GCC Grand Tours,” is scheduled for a trial launch in late 2025, with full implementation to follow.
This visa will allow smooth travel across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, modeled after the Schengen system.
GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi confirmed that the visa is in its final approval stage, with applications to be available soon through a digital platform.
While GCC nationals already travel visa-free within the region, the new system mainly targets millions of foreign residents, offering them simpler procedures, longer validity, and lower costs compared to applying for six separate visas.
UAE Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri highlighted that the initiative will benefit residents as well as passport holders, making identification cards like the Emirates ID more valuable.
Expected features include flexible options for either single-country or multi-country access, with validity periods ranging from 30 to 90 days. The digital application system will streamline the process and meet international security and technology standards.
The visa, approved in late 2023, is intended to stimulate tourism by making cross-border travel easier. The UAE, already a key tourism hub, is investing in infrastructure such as the Etihad Rail passenger network, expected in 2026, which will complement the visa by improving regional connectivity.
Challenges remain in aligning security and technological systems among the six states. Although the overall framework is nearly complete, details such as specific application requirements are still being finalized. A meeting held in Riyadh in June 2025 demonstrated the collective efforts to resolve these issues.
The unified visa is seen as transformative for GCC residents, enabling greater mobility, reducing bureaucracy, lowering costs, and strengthening cultural exchange. It positions the Gulf as a single tourism destination.
For UAE residents, the visa will simplify the varied entry rules currently in place. While citizens already enjoy visa-free entry to most GCC countries, foreign residents often face eVisa or on-arrival requirements. Kuwait recently began allowing GCC residents to enter with an ID card, and in late 2024 the UAE introduced a 30-day eVisa for expatriate residents of other GCC states, subject to certain conditions. The unified visa will standardize these procedures across all member countries.
Saudi Arabia, which is investing heavily in tourism under Vision 2030, stands to gain significantly. The unified visa will support projects such as Neom, the Red Sea resorts, and AlUla, while also allowing visitors to combine Saudi destinations with attractions in Dubai, Qatar, and beyond, turning the Gulf into a multi-stop destination.
The Kingdom already benefits from its religious tourism sector, welcoming millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Experts note that the unified system can extend pilgrim stays, encouraging visits to historical and cultural sites like AlUla, Neom, and Diriyah. With Riyadh and Jeddah airports as key hubs, travelers could enjoy short cultural excursions or multi-country itineraries, supported by regional rail and budget air connections.
This visa will allow smooth travel across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, modeled after the Schengen system.
GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi confirmed that the visa is in its final approval stage, with applications to be available soon through a digital platform.
While GCC nationals already travel visa-free within the region, the new system mainly targets millions of foreign residents, offering them simpler procedures, longer validity, and lower costs compared to applying for six separate visas.
UAE Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri highlighted that the initiative will benefit residents as well as passport holders, making identification cards like the Emirates ID more valuable.
Expected features include flexible options for either single-country or multi-country access, with validity periods ranging from 30 to 90 days. The digital application system will streamline the process and meet international security and technology standards.
The visa, approved in late 2023, is intended to stimulate tourism by making cross-border travel easier. The UAE, already a key tourism hub, is investing in infrastructure such as the Etihad Rail passenger network, expected in 2026, which will complement the visa by improving regional connectivity.
Challenges remain in aligning security and technological systems among the six states. Although the overall framework is nearly complete, details such as specific application requirements are still being finalized. A meeting held in Riyadh in June 2025 demonstrated the collective efforts to resolve these issues.
The unified visa is seen as transformative for GCC residents, enabling greater mobility, reducing bureaucracy, lowering costs, and strengthening cultural exchange. It positions the Gulf as a single tourism destination.
For UAE residents, the visa will simplify the varied entry rules currently in place. While citizens already enjoy visa-free entry to most GCC countries, foreign residents often face eVisa or on-arrival requirements. Kuwait recently began allowing GCC residents to enter with an ID card, and in late 2024 the UAE introduced a 30-day eVisa for expatriate residents of other GCC states, subject to certain conditions. The unified visa will standardize these procedures across all member countries.
Saudi Arabia, which is investing heavily in tourism under Vision 2030, stands to gain significantly. The unified visa will support projects such as Neom, the Red Sea resorts, and AlUla, while also allowing visitors to combine Saudi destinations with attractions in Dubai, Qatar, and beyond, turning the Gulf into a multi-stop destination.
The Kingdom already benefits from its religious tourism sector, welcoming millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Experts note that the unified system can extend pilgrim stays, encouraging visits to historical and cultural sites like AlUla, Neom, and Diriyah. With Riyadh and Jeddah airports as key hubs, travelers could enjoy short cultural excursions or multi-country itineraries, supported by regional rail and budget air connections.