According to Secretary-General Jassem Al Budaiwi, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is getting ready to launch a single-entry “Grand Tours” tourist visa, which, once in place, will allow easy travel between all six member nations: the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.
Al Budaiwi commended the interior and passport ministries’ joint efforts in advancing the unified visa initiative to its conclusion. He emphasized its alignment with the GCC leadership’s vision for regional integration, enhanced tourism infrastructure, and economic growth .
The visa will enable travellers to tour one nation or several GCC states under a single permission, drawing parallels to Europe’s Schengen system. Both tourists and family visitors would be supported, and it is anticipated to be available through an online application gateway for 30 to 90 days.
This milestone shows the GCC’s commitment to boosting regional tourism, aiming for easier travel, increased visitor numbers, and stronger connectivity between member countries — a major step towards deepening economic and cultural cooperation across the Gulf.
