What happened? GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said the unified Gulf tourist visa will “see the light soon”, signalling that the long-awaited scheme is nearing implementation.
Who is affected? International tourists planning to visit the six GCC countries could eventually use one regional tourist visa instead of applying separately for each country.
Why does it matter? The GCC Grand Tourist Visa could make multi-country Gulf holidays easier, encourage longer stays and support tourism and hospitality businesses across the region.
- Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Organisation: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
- Status: Expected to launch soon; exact date not announced
- Who is affected: International tourists visiting GCC countries
- Business impact: Could support hotels, airlines, tour operators and other tourism businesses
- What’s next: Authorities are continuing work on implementation details
The GCC Grand Tourist Visa could soon become a reality after GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said the long-awaited unified permit will “see the light soon”. He made the remarks during the Security and History Dialogue 2026 in Riyadh on September 6.
The visa is designed to allow international tourists to visit all six GCC countries — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait — using a single permit. However, the GCC has not yet announced an official launch date, visa fee, validity period or application process.
One visa could cover all six Gulf countries
The proposed GCC Grand Tourist Visa is often compared with Europe’s Schengen visa because it aims to make travel across multiple countries easier with one travel permit.
For tourists, this could mean planning a single holiday covering several Gulf destinations rather than dealing with separate tourist visa arrangements.
A visitor could potentially combine Dubai and Abu Dhabi with destinations such as Riyadh, Doha, Muscat, Manama and Kuwait City during one regional trip.
The exact conditions will only become clear once the GCC releases the final implementation details.
The unified visa has been years in the making
The idea is not new. GCC tourism ministers unanimously approved the unified tourist visa proposal in October 2023. GCC interior ministers then approved the project in November of the same year.
In 2025, the UAE Ministry of Economy said the unified visa had been approved and was awaiting implementation.
The GCC Secretariat also confirmed that passport departments in the six member states were working on the project. This shows that the scheme involves coordination between several governments rather than a single-country visa system.
The latest comments from Albudaiwi therefore represent another important step towards putting the plan into operation.
What could the GCC tourist visa mean for Dubai?
Dubai is likely to be one of the major destinations affected by the unified visa because of its established international tourism market, airport connectivity and hospitality sector.
The UAE Ministry of Economy has previously highlighted the potential of the scheme to encourage tourists to explore several GCC destinations during the same trip.
That could benefit hotels, airlines, travel agencies, tour operators, restaurants and attractions across the region.
For Dubai, the change could also encourage visitors who might otherwise spend their entire holiday in one country to add the emirate to a wider Gulf itinerary.
The wider economic goal is significant. The UAE Ministry of Economy has previously referred to a GCC target of increasing inbound tourism spending to $188 billion by 2030.
It is not the same as the GCC residents’ UAE visa
One point could cause confusion among UAE residents: the proposed GCC Grand Tourist Visa is not the same as the UAE’s existing eVisa for GCC residents.
The UAE already provides an entry permit for eligible residents of GCC countries. According to the UAE Government portal, eligible GCC residents can receive a 30-day entry visa that can be extended once for another 30 days.
The new unified visa is aimed at international tourists travelling across the GCC, rather than simply GCC residents entering the UAE.
This distinction will become particularly important when the final application system and eligibility rules are announced.
GCC is also making regional travel easier
The unified tourist visa is part of a broader push to improve movement between GCC countries.
Albudaiwi recently highlighted the UAE-Bahrain One-Point Air Travellers project as another example of regional integration.
The pilot, launched in 2026, connects Bahrain International Airport with Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi. It uses electronic connectivity, biometric verification and e-gates to streamline travel procedures.
However, the two initiatives should not be confused.
The One-Point Air Travellers project focuses on simplifying travel procedures, particularly for GCC citizens, while the unified tourist visa is designed to make multi-country travel easier for foreign visitors.
For UAE residents, the biggest potential change is simpler holiday planning for visiting friends and family or accompanying international visitors around the Gulf.
International travellers could also find it easier to build multi-stop itineraries around the region.
The tourism sector stands to gain if visitors stay longer and spend money across several countries rather than choosing just one destination. Hotels, airlines, attractions, restaurants and tour companies could all benefit from increased cross-border tourism.
For now, however, travellers should wait for official instructions before making visa plans. The unified visa has not been opened for applications yet, and its final cost, validity and eligibility requirements remain unconfirmed.
FAQs
What is the GCC Grand Tourist Visa?
It is a proposed unified tourist visa designed to allow eligible international visitors to travel across all six GCC countries using one permit.
Which countries will the GCC tourist visa cover?
The planned visa covers the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.
When will the GCC unified tourist visa launch?
The GCC Secretary-General said the visa will launch soon, but no specific launch date has been announced.
How much will the GCC tourist visa cost?
The official visa fee has not yet been announced. Travellers should rely on information released by GCC authorities once applications open.
Can tourists apply for the GCC Grand Tourist Visa now?
No. The scheme has not yet opened for applications. Authorities are still finalising its implementation.
The GCC Grand Tourist Visa is moving closer to launch after the GCC Secretary-General confirmed that the long-awaited scheme will arrive soon. While travellers still have to wait for the official date, fee and application rules, the planned single permit could make multi-country Gulf holidays much simpler.
For Dubai and the wider UAE, the scheme could also strengthen the region’s position as a connected tourism destination and encourage visitors to stay longer and explore more of the Gulf.
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