GCC officially called Grand Tourist Visa for all six GCC Q4 2025
TheΒ Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)Β will roll out the pilot phase of its long-awaitedΒ unified tourist visaΒ β officially called theΒ GCC Grand Tourist VisaΒ β in theΒ fourth quarter of 2025. Modeled after EuropeβsΒ Schengen visa, the new system will allow foreign visitors to travel freely across all six GCC member states βΒ Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and KuwaitΒ β using a single permit. The announcement was made byΒ UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, according to theΒ Khaleej Times. Al Marri described the initiative as a βstrategic step towards deeper regional integrationβ and a move that will strengthen the Gulfβs collective appeal as a single, world-class tourism destination.
What Is the GCC Grand Tourist Visa?
TheΒ GCC Grand Tourist VisaΒ aims toΒ simplify regional travelΒ and promote the Gulf as one connected destination. Instead of applying for multiple entry permits, eligible visitors will be able to exploreΒ Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and KuwaitΒ under one visa.
Key Benefits of the Unified Visa
- Simplified travel processΒ β Foreign visitors will need onlyΒ one visaΒ instead of six separate applications. - Boost to religious and leisure tourismΒ β Expected to supportΒ religious visitsΒ and increased leisure trips across the GCC. - Support for business travelΒ β Entrepreneurs and investors can move more easily between Gulf countries for meetings and projects. - Economic growthΒ β Greater tourism flow means higher spending on hotels, retail, dining, and transport, boosting regional GDP.
What Travelers Need to Know
- TheΒ pilot phaseΒ begins inΒ Q4 2025. - Full implementationΒ of the GCC Grand Tourist Visa will be announced after the trial period. - Key details β such asΒ application process, visa duration, eligibility, and costΒ β haveΒ not yet been disclosed. - Travelers are advised to monitorΒ official government portalsΒ and tourism authority websites for updates once the system goes live.
