GCC Grand Tours Visa: What We Know So Far

Travellers can soon enjoy access to all six countries in the GCC region with one click of a mouse, with its launch date expected to be sometime in 2025.

Known as the GCC Tourist Visa and the Unified GCC Visa, it has been officially named as the GCC Grand Tours Visa. With a single visa, foreigners can expect to move freely across the six GCC countries — Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. This new visa initiative will enable tourists to tour the GCC with a single visa.

The GCC Unified Visa has been in talks since 2023 and was expected to be launched by 2024. Despite the delays, the visa is now in its final stages and is planned to be rolled out by the end of 2025. 

Currently, GCC residents who require visas have to apply for separate visas to visit each country in the region. The new, Schengen-style visa scheme will make travel across the region a seamless experience for both GCC residents and international travellers alike by making the visa application process more convenient. 

Even though the GCC has yet to release specific details about the visa, it is expected that the GCC Tourist Visa will be valid for tourism purposes and family visits for a duration of 30 to 90 days. Applicants will likely be able to choose between a visa for one country or all six countries, allowing for multi-country access with a single unified visa. All the applications will also have to be filled out online. 

The GCC Grand Tours Visa will probably have a longer validity period and be more cost-effective compared to applying for multiple visas separately. 

Apart from the benefits that travellers will enjoy, the visa is expected to enhance tourism and boost economic growth in the GCC region. With a simplified application process, the GCC aims for a rise in hotel bookings, airline traffic, tourism spending, and cultural exchange.

When the visa is rolled out, travellers will need to visit the official GCC Grand Tours Visa website and choose between a one-country or a six-country visa. They will need to fill out an online application form and upload the necessary documents, such as a copy of their passport and a recent passport-sized photo. Other required documents may include proof of accommodation, travel insurance, proof of funds, and a return or onward ticket. 

After making payment securely online, they will receive an e-visa to their email. Travellers may be expected to produce a digital or physical copy of the visa at immigration checkpoints. Visa on arrival is not expected to be a part of the initiative, so all applicants will require pre-departure approval before arriving in a GCC country.