GCC unified visa unanimously approved at Muscat meet
The six states approved the Schengen-style visa at the 40th meeting of the GCC Interior Ministers in Oman
09 November, 2023
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The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, have approved the unified tourist visa.
Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the GCC announced the decision at the ongoing meeting of the GCC Interior Ministers in Muscat, Oman.
Al Budaiwi lauded the new ‘Unified Gulf Tourist Visa’ initiative, and described it as a testament to the close cooperation between the GCC leaders.
Unified Gulf tourist visa
The new visa will open doors to travellers, granting them access to six countries under a single, unified tourist visa, and foster economic synergy across the GCC.
Earlier this year, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE’s Minister of Economy had said that specific regulations and legislation for the visa will be developed, with a targeted rollout between 2024 and 2025, subject to the readiness of each GCC country’s internal systems.
