GCC unified visa faces delays over security concerns, says Omani minister

Dubai: Efforts to roll out a unified visa for GCC countries have hit a roadblock, with Oman’s minister of heritage and tourism confirming that security concerns and differing national perspectives are causing significant delays.

Speaking during the Shura Council’s eighth regular session, Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi acknowledged that while the unified visa initiative was formally approved in 2023, it remains under study and is unlikely to be implemented in the near future.
“The unified GCC visa is still in the research phase,” Al Mahrouqi told council members, citing unresolved issues related to security and coordination among the six GCC nations — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

The visa scheme, often likened to Europe’s Schengen system, is intended to simplify travel across the Gulf by allowing tourists to move freely between member states on a single visa.
Advocates argue it would strengthen the region’s appeal to international travelers and foster deeper economic cooperation.

But behind closed doors, concerns about security, data sharing, and immigration control have reportedly slowed momentum, despite public support for the concept among tourism authorities.