The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is gearing up to launch a consolidated visa system, similar to the Schengen arrangement, covering six member states: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Anticipated to be operational by 2024/2025, this unified visa will enable travelers to explore all six nations with a single visa.
The announcement, made during the 40th meeting of GCC interior ministers in Oman, was lauded by GCC Secretary General Jassim Al Budaiwi as a “new achievement,” highlighting the strong collaboration and strategic direction of GCC leaders.
The unified Gulf tourist visa aims to simplify and streamline movement for both residents and tourists across the six GCC countries, promising positive impacts on the economic and tourism sectors.
Abdullah bin Touq, the UAE Minister of Economy, emphasized the unified visa’s importance in the GCC 2030 tourism plan.
This plan seeks to enhance the economic contribution of the sector through increased regional travel and higher hotel occupancy rates.
Projections suggest that the new visa system could lead to a 137 percent rise in tourist numbers, reaching 128.7 million by 2030.
Experts in the industry believe that this initiative will be a game changer for the countries in the Gulf, tapping into an untapped tourism market by addressing visa complexities that have deterred potential visitors.
The introduction of a single region tourist visa aligns with the GCC’s long-term objective of boosting inter-city flights and hotel visitors across the Gulf bloc, ultimately enhancing tourism’s contribution to GDP.
Tourism plays a crucial role in the Gulf countries economy, particularly in the UAE, where it constitutes 14 percent of the GDP. The unified tourist visa is a welcomed development, poised to simplify travel to the GCC region, boost tourism figures, and generate substantial economic benefits for all six member states.
