You will soon be able to travel to six Gulf countries with just one visa. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) plans to introduce a single tourist visa, similar to the Schengen visa, within the next two years. This visa will allow travellers to visit all six Gulf countries with ease. The news was announced by His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, who stated that the proposal received unanimous approval at the seventh meeting of GCC tourism ministers in Oman and will be presented at the upcoming GCC summit.
In a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the minister said that specific regulations and legislation for the visa will be developed, with a targeted rollout between 2024 and 2025, subject to the readiness of each GCC country's internal systems.
When introduced, this new visa will offer travellers the chance to explore six countries with a single unified tourist visa, promoting economic cooperation in the Gulf region. His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri mentioned that the UAE is prepared to embrace international tourists with this visa, and the Emirates Tourism Council has designed a tourist route connecting all seven emirates within the UAE.
This initiative is a vital component of the GCC 2030 tourism strategy, aimed at boosting the tourism sector's role in GDP by encouraging more travel within the GCC and raising hotel occupancy rates. It aspires to turn the GCC into a top global destination for local and international tourists.
Among the GCC nations, there are a total of 837 tourist sites, and the UAE stands out as the leader with 399 of these sites. Additionally, the UAE hosts the majority of tourist events and activities in the GCC, accounting for 73 out of 224 events in the Gulf region.
With this new visa, there's no doubt that the GCC will witness a significant tourism boom.