Unified GCC visa to launch in 2024-2025

A UAE minister said that a unified tourist visa for GCC countries has been approved and will be rolled out as early as next year.

Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, was quoted as saying by state news agency WAM that the process to implement the tourist visa will be discussed next month.

Al Marri told WAM that the visa is expected to be rolled out in 2024 or 2025, depending on when the rules for its implementation are finalised.

The Schengen-style visa was reportedly approved during a meeting with GCC ministers in Muscat. It will allow tourists to have a single visa to visit the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.

Meanwhile, Al Marri also revealed that GCC-member countries will be studying a unified tourist route for tourists with a visa valid for more than 30 days. The UAE is also reportedly discussing a tourism route connecting all seven emirates.