Middle East's Schengen style GCC tourist visa approved, to be rolled out 'soon'
The long-awaited unified tourist visa for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has received formal approval and is expected to be introduced soon, according to UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri. The visa aims to streamline tourism across the six GCC member nations — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait — and is being viewed as a significant step toward regional travel integration.
Speaking at a press briefing during the UAE Hospitality Summer Camp on Monday, June 16, 2025, Al Marri confirmed the progress:
'The single (GCC) tourist visa has been approved and waiting now to be implemented, hopefully, soon. Now, it is with the Ministry of Interior and the relevant stakeholders and they should look into it.'
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Gulf countries announce plans for a Schengen-like unified tourist visa
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Dubbed the "GCC Grand Tours Visa" in some circles, the initiative is modeled on the Schengen visa system used in Europe. It will allow travelers to visit all six Gulf countries under a single visa, removing the current requirement of applying separately for each destination, despite existing air and road connectivity.
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The approval of the
GCC unified tourist visa
has been met with strong support from leaders in the travel and hospitality sectors, who see it as a turning point for regional tourism and economic activity. Industry professionals expect the visa to ease cross-border travel across the six Gulf nations, making the region more attractive and accessible to international tourists.
One notable trend expected to grow is "bleisure" travel — a combination of business and leisure — as visitors are likely to extend their work-related trips to explore neighbouring countries. This could translate into longer stays and a broader spread of tourism-related spending across the region.
Beyond tourism, the unified visa is projected to spur wider economic benefits. Stakeholders believe that simplified travel will drive job creation, boost investment in hospitality and infrastructure, and support a more collaborative approach to positioning the GCC as an integrated travel destination.
Tourism Momentum: GCC Set for Accelerated Growth
The visa initiative follows a period of strong recovery in the Gulf's travel sector. Data from the GCC's Statistical Centre shows:
68.1 million visitors in 2023
$110.4 billion in tourism revenue
A 42.8% rise in arrivals compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels
In the UAE, the sector continues to contribute significantly to the economy. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC):
The industry supported 833,000 jobs in 2024
Employment is forecast to reach 1 million by 2030
The earlier WTTC projection for 2034 was 928,000 jobs
By 2030, one in nine UAE residents could be employed in tourism
Dubai's Lead Role in Regional Travel
Dubai remains a key driver of Gulf tourism. According to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, the city recorded:
7.15 million visitors between January and April 2025
A 7% year-on-year growth compared to the same period in 2024
With the upcoming rollout of the unified visa, other destinations in the GCC are expected to benefit from Dubai's tourist inflow, encouraging longer and more diverse travel itineraries across the region.
(With TOI inputs)
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