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GCC unified tourist visa set for pilot launch in 2025
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GCC to test single tourist visa, allowing travel across all member states under one permit
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will pilot a unified tourist visa in the fourth quarter of 2025, enabling travelers to visit all six member countries on a single permit. UAE Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, confirmed the rollout during World Tourism Day 2025, stating that full implementation will follow the pilot phase. The visa, also known as the GCC Grand Tourist Visa, aims to streamline travel across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait, modeled on Europe’s Schengen system, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
The unified visa will simplify travel logistics, offer multi-entry access across the Gulf, and strengthen the region’s collective appeal as a tourism hub
The pilot visa marks a major step in regional integration and will reduce the need for multiple applications and paperwork for visitors. Approval for the scheme was granted in June 2025, and authorities are coordinating across GCC ministries to ensure operational readiness. Tourism data highlights the potential impact: in 2024, 3.3 million visitors from GCC countries stayed in the UAE, with Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait leading in numbers. Officials expect the unified visa to encourage broader exploration of Gulf destinations, from Saudi heritage sites to Emirati beaches, Omani mountains, and Qatar’s cultural landmarks.
Once fully operational, the GCC Unified Tourist Visa will provide multi-country access under a single permit, eliminate redundancies, streamline documentation, and support joint regional branding. The initiative aligns with the Gulf’s long-term goals for tourism growth, economic integration, and global competitiveness.
