GCC Approves Unified Tourist Visa to Boost Regional Travel
In a major step towards streamlining cross-border mobility, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states have collectively approved a unified tourist visa system. The agreement will allow travelers to freely explore Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates on a single visa.
The unified visa represents the GCC’s first “Schengen-style” travel arrangement for the six-nation bloc. First proposed in May 2022, the initiative finally secured approval during the GCC’s 40th summit meeting in Oman’s capital of Muscat.
According to the UAE’s Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq, the unified tourist visa fulfills a key component of the GCC 2030 tourism strategy. By facilitating entry between member states, the visa is poised to play a vital economic role by encouraging greater regional travel.
The overarching strategy seeks to substantially boost the tourism industry’s economic footprint. Along with driving intra-regional mobility, it targets increased hotel occupancy and higher visitor volumes from beyond the GCC.
Minister Touq stated that under the 2030 framework, the GCC aims to attract nearly 129 million visitors annually by the end of the decade. This would represent a 137% jump from the 39.8 million arrivals in 2021, showcasing the bloc’s strong commitment to tourism growth.
The unified visa approval comes as the GCC countries recover strongly from the COVID-19 pandemic’s demand setbacks. Easing entry barriers between member states provides a timely catalyst to accelerate tourism’s expansion.
Seamless regional travel will allow tourists and business visitors alike to maximize their time by easily visiting multiple countries on a single trip. The unified visa builds on previous initiatives like the GCC railway network that enhances connectivity.
With shared cultural heritage and world-class attractions, the GCC bloc offers tremendous potential as an integrated tourism destination. Implementing unified entry policies was the next logical step to unlock this potential for economic and social gains.
The unified tourist visa still faces a lengthy transition, with rollout expected between 2024 and 2025 across member nations. But its approval seeds a vision of greater mobility and integration that can propel the region’s tourism to new heights.
