GCC’s game-changing visa set to roll...

'Grand Tours' permit will allow multiple entry to Gulf countries for up to 30 days

In a move set to boost tourism across all six GCC countries, the highly anticipated GCC ‘Grand Tours’ Visa has been approved and will launch “soon”, according to UAE Minister of Economy, Abdulla Touq Al Marri.

“The single [GCC] tourist visa has been approved and is waiting now to be implemented, hopefully, soon," he said during a press briefing.

First announced in 2024, and modelled on the Schengen system used in Europe, the visa will allow seamless travel across the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries – UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait – under a single permit for up to 30 days. Currently, individual visas are required for each country.

The new visa will provide greater convenience for travellers, giving them the cost-effective option of paying for a single visa to travel across all GCC borders. The application process will be completely online.

Considered a significant step towards regional travel integration, authorities across the region anticipate the visa could boost tourist numbers by up to 10 million annually.

Among tourism sectors expected to benefit from the visa is ‘bleisure’ travel, with visitors more likely to extend their work-related trips to explore neighbouring countries, as well as the region's growing cruise sector.

A wave of regional initiatives is further supporting intra-GCC travel, including the Cruise Arabia alliance, which promotes multi-country cruise itineraries, and the GCC railway network, which will eventually link Kuwait, Saudi, Bahrain, Qatar and the Oman, making cross-border travel more seamless and attractive for visitors.

Once complete, and with domestic routes expanding, passengers will be able to travel by train between tourism hotspots including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Muscat, Doha, Riyadh and Jeddah, providing a land link from the Indian Ocean to the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea.

The travel and tourism sector in the Gulf countries has seen significant growth, with the industry contributing 11.4% to total gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, an increase of 31.9% compared to the figures recorded pre-pandemic in 2019.

For more information, visit gccvisa.com

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