Latest news with #GCCVisa
Observer
11-07-2025
- Business
- Observer
Passport departments review the launch of Unified GCC tourist visa
Muscat: The Secretary-General of the Gulf Council reviewed on Wednesday the efforts being made by the passport departments of the Ministries of Interior of the GCC countries to launch the unified tourist visa project soon. Jassim Mohammed al-Budaiwi, the Secretary-General, affirmed in Riyadh that the passport departments of the GCC's Ministries of Interior, through their ongoing joint technical meetings, are making efforts to launch the unified tourist visa project. He reviewed the draft agenda of the unified Gulf visa project and the latest findings of the meetings of the technical teams concerned with this project. He said the unified visa will facilitate movement between the GCC countries and stressed that everyone is working as one team to keep pace with technological developments and security requirements in a world characterized by rapid change. The unified visa was officially approved in 2023 as part of efforts to boost tourism in the region. It is aimed at making travel more convenient for non-GCC nationals residing in member countries, allowing them to explore the region without applying for multiple entry permits. According to sources, tourists will be able to visit all six GCC countries using just one visa, which will be available only for tourism and family visits. Applications will be made online through to be launched official portal. The visa is expected to be valid for 30 to 90 days. Visitors will have the option to select between access to a single country or multiple countries. Benefits for Tourists Tourists can enjoy the freedom to travel seamlessly across several GCC countries with a single visa. This eliminates the need for multiple applications and allows travelers to visit more of the Gulf region with fewer administrative difficulties. Simplified Visa Process The application process for the Grand Tours Visa will be completely online. Having a user-friendly online application process that allows tourists to apply for a visa to one country or all six countries in a few short minutes reduces the hassle and time typically involved in obtaining separate visas for each country. Tourists can save money by choosing to apply for the unified visa option to travel across all six nations, rather than needing to pay for multiple different visas. This makes the GCC Visa an affordable choice for tourists looking to explore the Gulf region. The GCC visa allows tourists the opportunity to visit all six culturally rich and diverse countries easily and with low administrative effort. For people who love to travel, having the opportunity to visit all six countries is a significant advantage of the visa. The introduction of the visa is likely to boost tourism and lead to increased spending in local economies, job creation, and increased development in the hospitality and service sectors, all of which will have significant positive impacts on the local economies. The multi-country travel and the likely increase in tourism encourage interactions between visitors and local communities ,which encourages greater understanding and appreciation of the region's rich heritage and diverse cultures. Valid Passport Travellers will need a valid passport from an approved country with at least six months of validity from the date of entry into the GCC region. You will also need to have several blank pages in your passport for exit and entry stamps. Some applications may require additional documentation, such as: Confirmation of hotel bookings, a rental agreement, or a letter of invitation from a host residing in one of the GCC countries. A detailed plan of travel within the GCC, including flight bookings or other transportation details between the countries. Proof of valid travel insurance covering medical expenses, emergencies, and repatriation throughout your stay in the GCC countries. Bank statements or financial documents demonstrating that you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses during your stay in the GCC region. Evidence of a return flight to your home country or onward travel to another destination outside the GCC region. Proof of accommodation Travel itinerary Travel insurance Proof of financial means Return or onward ticket
Skift
04-07-2025
- Business
- Skift
Unified GCC Tourist Visa Nears Launch, Aims to Boost Regional Stays
It's been two years since the unified GCC visa was first mentioned, a new travel permit which ministers hope will promote cross-country travel as seen in Europe. The long-anticipated unified GCC visa is finally nearing rollout, two years after it was first approved. The new visa will allow travelers to move freely among any Gulf Cooperation Council country — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates — under a single permit. GCC Secretary General Jassem Al-Budaiwi said the visa would be launched 'soon' following a meeting with the bloc's interior ministries this week. The initiative was first floated in May 2023 during a conference in Dubai, where ministers from across the Gulf signaled their intent to replicate the European tourism model and encourage seamless, cross-country travel. Official approval came in October 2024. Tourism Benefits Since its announcement, tourism leaders across the region have repeatedly pointed to the visa's potential to transform visitor flows. At a Dubai tradeshow in May 2024, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE's Minister of Economy, said the visa would unlock 'grand packages' lasting up to a month. 'The unified tourist visa will allow travelers to visit all six countries,' he said. 'Through the GCC grand tours we are aiming to finish, tourists will spend more than 30 days in the region.' Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority Chairman Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, speaking at the same event, added: 'One of the main aims is to extend the length of stay. In leisure, people can travel up to four weeks. We want them to combine their holidays across the GCC.' Raki Phillips, CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, also welcomed the plans at the Skift Global Forum East 2023. 'This new Schengen-style visa is huge for [GCC] tourism and Ras Al Khaimah will see a huge benefit,' he said. Phillips stressed the need for a unified mindset: 'There is nothing more important than a collaborative approach. We should compete collaboratively. In this part of the world, we want to be collaborative. That could mean visa processing, hotels, and airlines.' At its core, the new visa aims to reduce barriers and make travel across the Gulf simpler and more appealing. 'We have to take away the burden of travel,' Phillips said. 'We want to find those friction points and eliminate them. Travel must be more accessible.' A Unified Gulf In October 2023, Al Marri told UAE state news that the visa is part of a wider strategy between now and the end of the decade. "This initiative is an integral part of the GCC 2030 tourism strategy, designed to elevate the tourism sector's contribution to the GDP through increased inter-GCC travel and elevated hotel occupancy rates, transforming the GCC into a pre-eminent global destination for both regional and international tourists." He stated that the GCC joint tourism strategy "2023-2030" targets an annual increase of 7% in inbound trips to GCC countries, with a target of reaching 128.7 million visitors by 2030.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
One visa, six gulf nations: What travellers need to know about the upcoming GCC Unified Visa
The Gulf Cooperation Council is set to launch a unified visa, similar to the Schengen visa, allowing tourists to explore Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman with a single permit. Approved in November 2023, the visa aims to boost regional tourism and economic growth by simplifying travel across the six Gulf nations. In a recent update, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is all ready to introduce a new single-entry visa just like Schengen visa. Yes, you read that right. This GCC visa will allow travellers to explore freely across six Gulf countries. With one visa, visitors will be able to explore Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. The announcement was made by GCC Secretary General Jassem Al Budaiwi on Wednesday. The secretary said, "The unified visa reflects the vision of our leaders to strengthen integration and cooperation". This new visa, according to him, will boost travel in the region along with bringing economic benefits by increasing tourism. The visa was approved in November 2023 during a meeting of GCC interior ministers in Oman. It is similar in concept to the European Schengen visa, which lets people travel across many European countries with a single permit. Budaiwi also informed that it will use modern technologies to match global security standards. "Involved parties are keen on keeping up with the latest technologies, as well as growing and rapid global security demands," he mentioned. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Doutor: Manter a massa muscular após os 50 anos depende deste hábito noturno Revista do Homem Saiba Mais Undo Prime features of the GCC Visa 1) When launched, travellers will be able to explore six GCC nations with just one visa. 2) It will only be issued for tourism and family visit purposes. 3) Applicants will have to apply online through an official portal 4) Validity: 30 to 90 days. 5) Visitors can choose from between a single nation and multiple countries. 6) It is said that the visa will be affordable Documents required As per Gulf News, those applying for a GCC visa, will need to have a few things: 1) A valid passport 2) A recent passport-sized photo 3) Address of the place where you'll be staying (hotel bookings/invitation letter) 4) Travel insurance 5) Bank statement to financially secure your travel 6) To and from airplane ticket Purpose of GCC visa The main purpose of the introduction of GCC, often called the "GCC Grand Tours Visa," is to allow tourists to move freely across the Gulf nations with a single permit without any hassle. This unified travel document will streamline the process by removing the need for individual visas for each nation making regional travel more easy.
Zawya
18-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
GCC-unified tourist visa approved, set for imminent rollout
Doha, Qatar: A Schengen-style single tourist visa for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has been officially approved and is set to be rolled out soon, a UAE Minister has confirmed. UAE Minister of Economy, Abdulla bin Touq Al-Marri said this to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the UAE Hospitality Summer Camp press conference. "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 Minister told the newspaper. The strategic move is seen as a critical milestone for regional tourism, enabling seamless travelling across all six GCC countries - Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, UAE, and Bahrain. Once implemented, the visa will enable access to all six GCC countries, simplify paper work for tourists and enable easier travel for residents across GCC. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
