logo
Kuwait eases rules for GCC residents to get a visa-on-arrival

Kuwait eases rules for GCC residents to get a visa-on-arrival

Observer5 days ago
Kuwait's Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad al Yousef al Sabah on Sunday issued a decision allowing all foreigners residing in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to enter Kuwait by obtaining a tourist visa on arrival at all entry points, according to Kuwait Times.
The decision is effective immediately.
A tourist visa is valid for 90 days. According to the decision, GCC residents must have a residency permit in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain valid for at least six months.
The decision also abolishes regulations issued in 2008 and which allowed only certain categories of GCC residents, like doctors, engineers, judges, executives, and others, to avail of the tourist visa on arrival, the report said.
Around 25 million foreigners residing in the five GCC member states can benefit from the Kuwaiti visa on arrival.
Nationals of most countries in Europe, North America, some Latin American countries, and leading Asian nations like China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and others have been allowed to obtain tourist visas on arrival for many years.
Over the past 15 months, Kuwait has eased restrictions on visas to foreigners in a bid to open up for visitors. It has also made it easier for hotels to sponsor visitors and for companies to obtain business visas for their foreign partners.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Value of GCC non-oil sector reaches $1.513 trillion
Value of GCC non-oil sector reaches $1.513 trillion

Times of Oman

time3 hours ago

  • Times of Oman

Value of GCC non-oil sector reaches $1.513 trillion

Muscat: The gross domestic product (GDP) of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries at current prices in 2023 reached $2.1431 trillion, marking a 2.7% decline compared to $2.2027 trillion at the end of 2022. Data released by the GCC Statistical Centre indicated that the value of the net national disposable income (available for consumption and savings after deducting taxes and other transfers) amounted to $1.9891 trillion, down 3% from $2.0515 trillion in 2022. By the end of 2023, the total value added by the non-oil sector in the GCC reached approximately $1.513 trillion at current prices, while the oil sector contributed $603.5 billion. The data revealed that the non-oil sector's share of the Gulf's total GDP at current prices rose to 71.5% by the end of 2023, up from 65% in 2022, reflecting an annual growth rate of 6.4%. Over the past five years, mining and quarrying activities were the largest contributors to the GCC economy, averaging 28.3%, while manufacturing activities led the non-oil sector's contribution to GDP with an average of 11.7%. Most economic activities saw positive growth rates in 2023, with finance and insurance recording the highest growth at 11.7%, followed by transport and storage (11.6%), real estate activities (8.1%), public administration and defense (7.9%), wholesale and retail trade (7.6%), and education (5.5%). In contrast, mining and quarrying activities, along with manufacturing, experienced declines of 18.8% and 0.7%, respectively. Regarding the components of Gulf GDP expenditure at current prices, GCC Statistical Centre data showed that the value of goods and services exports reached $1.2587 trillion by the end of 2023, accounting for 59.5% of GDP at current prices—a 7.1% decrease. Final consumption expenditure (total spending by households, non-profit institutions, and the government on goods and services to directly meet their needs and desires, without using them in the production of other goods or services) reached $1.2456 trillion, with an annual growth rate of 7.5%.

Non-oil sector's contribution to the GCC GDP sees growth
Non-oil sector's contribution to the GCC GDP sees growth

Observer

time4 hours ago

  • Observer

Non-oil sector's contribution to the GCC GDP sees growth

Muscat - The gross domestic product (GDP) of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries at current prices reached $2.143 trillion in 2023, down 2.7 percent from $2.202.7 trillion at the end of 2022. Data released by the GCC Statistical Center showed that the value of disposable GDP (for consumption and savings after deducting taxes and other transfers) amounted to $1.989 trillion, compared to $2.515 trillion in 2022, a decrease of 3 percent. The total value added of the non-oil sector in the GCC countries by the end of 2023, at current prices, amounted to approximately $1.513 trillion, while the value added of the oil sector amounted to $603.5 billion. Data indicates that the non-oil sector's contribution to the Gulf's GDP at current prices rose to 71.5 percent by the end of 2023, compared to 65 percent by the end of 2022, with an annual growth rate of 6.4 percent. Mining and quarrying activities contributed the most to the GCC economy over the past five years, averaging 28.3 percent, while manufacturing activities contributed the most to GDP within the non-oil sector, averaging 11.7 percent. Most economic activities witnessed positive growth rates in 2023, with finance and insurance activities recording the highest growth at 11.7 percent, followed by transportation and storage at 11.6 percent, real estate activities at 8.1 percent, public administration and defense at 7.9 percent, wholesale and retail trade at 7.6 percent, and education at 5.5 percent. Meanwhile, mining and quarrying activities, in addition to the manufacturing industry, witnessed a decline of 18.8 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively. Regarding the components of spending on the Gulf's GDP at current prices, data from the Gulf Statistical Center indicates that the value of exports of goods and services reached approximately $1.258 trillion by the end of 2023, representing a contribution of 59.5 percent to the GDP at current prices, a decline of 7.1 percent. Final consumption expenditure (the total amount spent by households, non-profit organizations, and the government on purchasing goods and services to directly satisfy their needs and wants, without using them to produce other goods or services) reached US$1,245.6 trillion, with an annual growth rate of 7.5 percent. Gross capital formation (total fixed capital formation and assets) also reached US$601.8 billion, with an annual growth rate of 5.5 percent.

Oman streamlines ID system under amended Civil Status Law: Longer validity, revised fees
Oman streamlines ID system under amended Civil Status Law: Longer validity, revised fees

Times of Oman

timea day ago

  • Times of Oman

Oman streamlines ID system under amended Civil Status Law: Longer validity, revised fees

Oman has implemented significant reforms to its civil identification system through Royal Oman Police Decision 78/2025, amending the Executive Regulation of the Civil Status Law originally issued under Decision 40/2007. The changes modernise card validity periods and fee structures to enhance administrative efficiency while adjusting fiscal requirements. Speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman, Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Zadjali, Founding Partner of Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm, explained that: 'Under the previous framework, Omani nationals' identity cards had a validity of five years with an issuance or renewal fee of OMR 5 and the replacement of damage/lost fee was OMR10. Residence cards for non-Omani, on the other hand, were available with a validity of one year or two years. For a one-year residence card, the issuance or renewal fee was OMR5, and the replacement of damage/lost fee was OMR10, while for a two-year residence card, the issuance or renewal fee was OMR10, and the replacement fee was OMR20.' He added that 'the amended framework now grants 10-year validity for Omani national IDs doubling previous durations but raises issuance/renewal fees to OMR10. Crucially, the renewal window shrinks from 60 to 30 days post-expiry. For foreigners, the validity of residence cards has now increased from two years to three years. The residence card can be issued or renewed for one, two, or three years at fees of OMR5, 10, or 15 respectively, with a replacement fee of OMR20 in case of loss or damage.' These reforms aim to ease the administrative burden on citizens by introducing a 10-year validity period for national ID cards, while extending residence cards for foreigner to be valid for up to 3 years, increased from the previous 2-year limit, thereby providing more flexibility for residents and streamlining renewal processes, he concluded. * (Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm ([email protected]), (+968 244 87 600) was established 18 years ago and is serving clients through its offices in Muscat and Sohar, as well as operating on a request basis in other areas. It offers legal representation across a wide range of practice areas that include Labour Law, Corporate, Commercial, Contracts, Banking and Finance, International Trade, Foreign Investment, Insurance, Maritime Law, Construction and Engineering Contracts, International Arbitration, Intellectual Property and more).

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store