It's confirmed! The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states have unanimously given their approval for the proposed unified tourism visa system within the region. Similar to the Schengen visa, this GCC unified visa is expected to be operational between 2024 and 2025. This visa will simplify travel for people who wish to explore all six Gulf countries. The official announcement came from GCC Secretary General His Excellency Jassim Al Budaiwi during the 40th meeting of GCC interior ministers in Muscat, Oman, on 8 November.
Moreover, the unified Gulf tourist visa initiative is a project aimed at simplifying and enhancing the mobility of both residents and tourists across the six GCC nations, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. It is expected to bring about a favourable influence on the economic and tourism sectors.
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.