Schengen-style GCC Unified Tourist Visa approved, to be rolled out soon
The long-anticipated GCC unified tourist visa has officially been approved and will be rolled out in the near future, according to Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE's Minister of Economy.
The move is seen as a critical milestone that could reshape the region's travel landscape, enabling seamless tourism across all six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): the UAE,
Saudi Arabia
, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and
Kuwait
.
Confirming the development, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said that the unified visa has already been approved and is currently awaiting rollout. Speaking on the sidelines of the UAE Hospitality Summer Camp press conference held on Monday, June 16, 2025, Al Marri told Khaleej Times:
'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.'
The visa, sometimes referred to as the "GCC Grand Tours Visa", is designed to function similarly to the Schengen visa in Europe, which allows tourists to travel freely across participating countries with a single permit. This unified document will simplify travel by eliminating the need to apply for separate visas to each country in the Gulf bloc, despite the countries being well-connected by air and road.
Industry Reactions: A Boost to 'Bleisure' and Regional GDP
Leaders across the travel and hospitality sectors have welcomed the approval of the unified GCC tourist visa, calling it a 'game-changer' for the region's tourism industry and broader economies. Industry executives believe the new visa will significantly enhance tourism flows between the six Gulf nations by making cross-border travel more accessible and convenient for international visitors.
A major expected outcome is the rise of "bleisure" travel, a blend of business and leisure, as visitors are more likely to extend their stays to explore neighbouring destinations while on work trips.
This, in turn, could lead to longer average trip durations and a more even distribution of tourist spending across the region.
The unified visa is also seen as a catalyst for economic growth beyond tourism alone. Industry leaders anticipate that easier cross-border access will stimulate new job creation, attract investment in hospitality and infrastructure, and encourage greater regional collaboration in promoting the Gulf as a single, cohesive destination.
Record Tourism Numbers: GCC Poised for a Tourism Boom
The visa rollout comes on the back of strong post-pandemic recovery figures in the Gulf's travel sector. According to data released by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf, the region recorded:
68.1 million visitors in 2023
$110.4 billion in tourism revenue – a record high
42.8% increase in
tourist arrivals
compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019
In the UAE specifically, tourism continues to drive national economic growth. As per the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC):
The sector contributed to 833,000 jobs in 2024
Employment is projected to reach 1 million by 2030
This will exceed the WTTC's own earlier projection of 928,000 jobs by 2034
One in every 9 UAE residents is expected to be employed in the travel and tourism industry by 2030
Dubai Leading the Surge
Dubai, already a global tourism magnet, is setting the pace. According to figures from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, the emirate welcomed:
7.15 million tourists in the first four months of 2025
This marks a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024
Such numbers reinforce Dubai's position as a central hub in the GCC's broader tourism ecosystem.
With the unified visa coming into effect, other cities and countries in the region stand to benefit from Dubai's traffic through extended itineraries and regional travel circuits.
What's Next?
While an exact rollout date has not yet been publicly confirmed, the unified visa has been officially approved and is now under review by the Ministry of Interior and other relevant authorities in the UAE and across the GCC. Multiple Gulf ministers and senior officials have indicated in recent months that the unified visa will be introduced 'soon.'
Once implemented, the visa will enable:
Multi-entry access across all six GCC countries
Simplified paperwork for tourists
Greater integration of the region's tourism offerings under a unified travel policy
This initiative not only aligns with long-term regional integration goals but also aims to make the GCC a more attractive destination for international tourists by offering a smoother and more expansive travel experience.
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