GCC states gear up for unified tourist visa
The discussions covered the current progress on the visa framework and explored how to streamline passport procedures across all GCC nations. Such a visa aims to enhance mobility, simplify cross-border tourism, and deepen regional unity—moving closer to the broader vision set by GCC leaders .
This development reflects the collective ambition of Gulf states to bolster security cooperation, improve travel convenience, and foster stronger socio-economic ties, all while harnessing advanced technologies to meet evolving security needs .
© Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arabian Business
31 minutes ago
- Arabian Business
Abu Dhabi GDP hits $79.2bn in Q1 2025 as non-oil economy surges 6.1%
Abu Dhabi's economy continues to show strong momentum in 2025, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reaching AED291bn ($79.2bn) in the first quarter—a 3.4 per cent increase compared to Q1 2024, according to the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD). Driving this growth is the emirate's expanding non-oil economy, which surged 6.1 per cent year-on-year to AED163.6bn ($44.5bn). For the first time ever in a Q1 period, non-oil sectors contributed 56.2 per cent of total GDP, underscoring Abu Dhabi's continued economic diversification efforts. Abu Dhabi economy The oil sector accounted for the remaining 43.8 per cent, or AED127.4bn ($34.7bn). Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), said: 'Day after day, Abu Dhabi's economy is reaffirming the success of the emirate's long-term strategy and the effectiveness of timely policies and measures to address changes and challenges in regional and global landscape. 'Our Falcon Economy orchestrates multi-dimensional strategies across different sectors, enabling us to build synergies and work in tandem to achieve Abu Dhabi and the UAE's strategic objectives'. The manufacturing sector was the largest non-oil contributor, adding AED28.5bn ($7.8bn) in value—a 5 per cent year-on-year increase. It now represents 9.8 per cent of the emirate's GDP. As part of this, new industrial licences rose 4.7 per cent and the number off factories shifting to production surged 65 per cent, reflecting sectoral expansion Construction posted the strongest growth among non-oil sectors at 10.2 per cent, reaching AED27.5bn ($7.5bn) and contributing 9.4 per cent to total GDP. This expansion is supported by continued investment in housing, infrastructure, and AI-powered permitting systems such as the Binaa platform. The finance and insurance sector grew 9.1 per cent to AED19.6bn ($5.3bn), buoyed by a 43 per cent increase in registered institutions at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and a 33 per cent rise in assets under management. Foreign investment into Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) hit AED8.5bn ($2.3bn), up 151 per cent year-on-year and ADX market capitalisation crossed AED2.93tn ($797.8bn), a 3.2 per cent increase. Other examples of the diverse non-oil growth across sectors, include: Wholesale and retail trade: AED16bn ($4.4bn), up 3.6 per cent Real estate: Up 6.7 per cent Transport and logistics: Grew 7.5 per cent, affirming Abu Dhabi's role as a logistics hub Health sector: Up 5.2 per cent, aligned with quality-of-life initiatives Professional and technical services: Contributed 10.3 per cent, driven by rising demand for knowledge economy jobs Arts and entertainment: Grew 8.4 per cent, reinforcing tourism and culture's growing impact Abu Dhabi's population climbed to 4.14m in 2024, up from 3.8m in 2023. This demographic surge complements the emirate's robust non-oil expansion, supporting demand for housing, public services, and jobs. The emirate's AED13bn ($3.5bn) Digital Strategy (2025–2027) aims to position Abu Dhabi as the world's first fully AI-native government by 2027. By automating all public sector operations, the plan will boost efficiency, enhance service delivery and stimulate innovation-led economic growth. Abdulla Gharib Alqemzi, Director General of the Statistics Centre, said: 'The first quarter of 2025 reaffirms the strength, adaptability, and maturity of Abu Dhabi's economic model. Our transition toward a diversified, knowledge-based economy continues to gain momentum, with high-growth sectors like manufacturing, construction, and financial services driving sustainable expansion'.
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Iraq to select global operator for Faw Port's superstructure phase
The General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI) is preparing to select an international operator for the Al Faw Grand Port's superstructure phase, the state-owned company's director general told Iraqi News Agency (INA) on Thursday. The mega port project is located in the south of Iraq in Basra. Farhan Al-Fartousi said 11 international companies were invited to bid for the contract, adding that the contract will be awarded to the operator that best meets the port's operational and commercial needs, supported by a detailed feasibility study addressing volume and return expectations. In November 2024, Reuters had reported that the 11 shortlisted companies for the operator contract included China Merchants Port Group Co., Taiwanese container shipping line Evergreen, French shipping group CMA CGM, Switzerland's Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), India's Adani, Philippines-headquartered International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI), China's Cosco, and UAE-based ABM Global Shipping. Al-Fartousi said the Al Faw Grand Port's master plan has been designed to accommodate vessels with drafts up to 16.4 metres with depth reserves have been incorporated to enable further scalability. He said the Port's infrastructure phase is nearing completion, including all the announced berths and key components of the port's link road. To support safe navigation for larger vessels, Al-Fartousi said the company plans to install an integrated system of buoys and sensors. Unlike the Khor Abdullah Channel, where navigational buoys are spaced at 3 nautical miles, Faw will reduce this to 1.5–2 miles due to the port's increased traffic and draft requirements. Two towers are also set to be constructed near the breakwater to monitor environmental and navigational conditions such as wind speed, wave height, and tides. Additionally, a global vessel tracking system will be introduced to monitor and manage maritime traffic within Iraqi territorial waters. The $5 billion Phase 1 of Faw Port is scheduled to be commissioned before the end of 2025, according to an April 2025 Zawya Projects report. (Writing by Majda Muhsen; Editing by Anoop Menon)
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
OPEC oil output rises in June on Saudi and UAE hikes, Reuters survey finds
OPEC oil output rose in June, a Reuters survey found, led by Saudi Arabia after an OPEC+ agreement to raise production, although the increase was limited as Iraq pumped below target to compensate for earlier overproduction. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries pumped 27.02 million barrels per day last month, up 270,000 bpd from May's total, the survey showed on Friday, with Saudi Arabia making the largest increase. OPEC+, which comprises OPEC and its allies including Russia, is accelerating its plan to unwind its most recent layer of output cuts. At the same time, some members are required to make extra cuts to compensate for earlier overproduction, in theory limiting the impact of the hikes. Under an agreement by eight OPEC+ members covering June output, the five of them that are OPEC members - Algeria, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - were to raise output by 313,000 bpd before the effect of compensation cuts totalling 173,000 bpd for Iraq, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. According to the survey, the actual increase by the five was 267,000 bpd, with Saudi Arabia accounting for 200,000 bpd, although it is still pumping less than its quota. Iraq, which is under pressure to boost compliance with OPEC+ output quotas, curbed production, the survey found. The United Arab Emirates raised output by 100,000 bpd but still pumped below its OPEC+ quota. There is a wide range of estimates of output in Iraq and the UAE with many outside sources putting the countries' output higher than the countries themselves. While the Reuters survey and data provided by OPEC's secondary sources show they are pumping close to the quotas, other estimates, such as those of the International Energy Agency, say they are pumping significantly more. The Reuters survey aims to track supply to the market and is based on flows data from financial group LSEG, information from other companies that track flows such as Kpler, and information provided by sources at oil companies, OPEC and consultants. (Additional reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
