A unified tourist visa initiative, called the 'GCC Grand Tours Visa' or the 'GCC Unified Visa', is expected to launch this year, allowing travellers to enter all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with a single application.
That means hassle-free travel across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. This is a major win for tourists and UAE residents who often host visiting friends or plan regional getaways.
First approved in 2023, the visa is now in its final planning phase. Once live, the online-only application will let visitors explore the GCC countries without applying for multiple visas individually, saving both time and money.
The visa is valid for tourism and family visits, with an expected validity of 30 to 90 days. You will have the option to choose single-country or multi-country access, and you will bear lower overall cost compared to applying for separate visas. The move is especially useful for UAE expat residents, many of whom don’t enjoy visa-free access across the GCC.
Once live, you can simply visit the official website, fill out itinerary details by specifying one country or multiple countries, submit the required documents and pay the visa fee. You will receive the approved GCC Unified Visa via email. For more details, check out GCC Visa website.
This tourism-friendly initiative reflects growing cooperation among GCC nations to boost regional travel and simplify mobility for visitors. While the official launch date is yet to be announced, the rollout is expected within this year.