Unified Gulf Visa Launch Date To Be Launched Soon

The Gulf Cooperation Council recently kickstarted a unified tourist visa project called The GCC Grand Tours Visa. The GCC unified visa project seeks to integrate the visa systems of the six GCC countries to offer a single unified visa for tourists. According to the council, this integration process is currently being worked on from the technical side.  

According to an interview held with the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, the council will determine the date of the project’s implementation before the year runs out. The council is looking forward to the final vision of the unified GCC tourist visa process which includes implementing the project. “We hope that by the end of this year, we will have a clear perception of the date we will launch this visa,” the Secretary-General said.

The new GCC Grand Tours Visa will allow holders to visit the GCC countries, which include Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman. The Secretary-General mentioned that every non-Gulf citizen who intends to visit any GCC country will have the choice of a unified Gulf visa or a single visa for this country. He also revealed that, while the council has made great strides, it has also faced challenges, and sacrifices are required for the attainment of the goal.

The GCC Grand Tours Visa project is a part of efforts aimed at economic integration. The goal of the Unified Gulf Visa is to attract tourists to the GCC countries and keep them there for longer. The Tourism Minister for Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, said that the adoption of the unified Gulf visa will bring about new investment opportunities for the GCC countries. By 2030, the GCC countries expect tourist spending to have increased to $188 billion, according to the UAE Minister of Economy, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri.

The upcoming implementation of the Unified Gulf Visa will expand the economic scope of the six GCC countries.