A single tourist visa covering all six Gulf Cooperation Council nations will soon become a reality, according to Jassem Al Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the GCC. The plan aims to boost tourism by allowing visitors to move freely across the member states without needing multiple entry permits.
Al Budaiwi spoke about the visa during the 39th meeting of the GCC Passport Directors-General at the General Secretariat’s headquarters in Riyadh on Wednesday. He discussed the steps taken so far and recent findings from technical teams working to finalize the project.
The unified visa was officially approved by the GCC countries in 2023 to attract more visitors and strengthen ties between Gulf nations.
Al Budaiwi noted that the initiative goes beyond tourism by supporting regional collaboration and helping to modernize travel systems across the Gulf. While a launch date has yet to be announced, it is expected to roll out this year.
Work is underway to finalize logistical and regulatory details before the official launch. Early reports suggest that travellers will likely apply online for a visa with a validity of 30 to 90 days.
Applicants could be given options to visit one country or multiple countries under the same permit. For now, the visa will not be available on arrival, though the GCC may explore this in the future. The visa is intended for tourism and visiting family and friends.
Once introduced, the GCC Grand Tours Visa is expected to lower costs by removing the need for separate permits for each country. It will also cut down on paperwork and make cross-border travel smoother within the Gulf region.