GCC to Launch Unified Tourist Visa Soon, Confirms Secretary General Jassem Al Budaiwi

Muscat : A long-anticipated unified tourist visa for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will be launched soon, according to Jassem Al Budaiwi, Secretary General of the GCC. The announcement was made following his meeting with the heads of passport departments from the Interior Ministries of GCC member states.

Al Budaiwi commended the collaborative efforts among the GCC countries that have accelerated progress toward making the unified visa a reality. He emphasized the initiative’s importance in strengthening regional cooperation and enhancing the tourism sector.

The unified visa, modeled on the Schengen visa, will allow seamless travel across all six GCC nations – the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain – with a single permit. This strategic move is expected to significantly boost tourism, economic integration, and connectivity within the region.

Last month, UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al-Marri confirmed that the visa system had received official approval and would be implemented soon, reinforcing the region’s commitment to streamlining travel and attracting global tourists.