GCC is in the process of launching the Schengen-style GCC Unified tourist visa in 2026 to help boost Gulf tourism and make it easier to travel between some of the most popular Middle East destinations.
The highly anticipated GCC universal tourist visa, officially named the GCC Grand Tours Visa (or GCC Unified Visa), has been officially approved and is in the final stages of technical implementation. A pilot launch is expected in late 2025, with full implementation anticipated by the end of 2025 or early 2026.
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, confirmed this by releasing statements to Emirates News Agency (WAM).
Al Marri described the initiative as:
“The strategic step towards deeper regional integration”
This initiative will help increase the appeal of the Gulf region as a single destination for tourism. Before that, Jassim Al-Budaiwi, GCC Secretary-General, confirmed that the visa approval process is in its final stage, which will see applications scheduled to be accessible through an online portal.
Tourism Growth Sets the Perfect Stage
The tourism industry of the United Arab Emirates is growing rapidly and making the necessary preparations for the unification of visas.
In mid-September 2025, commercial licenses for tourism-related areas, including hospitality aviation, aviation, air transportation and digital tourism services had increased to 39,546, which is an increase of 275% since the year 2020.
The increase in tourism is due to the ongoing reforms in business that are taking place in the UAE and policies for investment that appeal to foreign investors and partnerships.
Al Marri reaffirmed tourism as the mainstay in the country’s overall economic strategy and was in line to the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to attract 40 million guests to hotels annually, and increase the country’s tourism revenue to Dh450 billion by the end of the decade.
Completely seamless GCC Journey with Only One Visa
This Schengen-style GCC tourism visa allows travellers to stay for more than a month within the area.
Al Marri said:
“Through the GCC Grand Tours, that we are working on and aiming to finish, will allow tourists to spend more than 30 days in the region.”
He also intends to make travel within the GCC region more convenient and accessible, thus increasing tourism numbers across the US.The GCC Unified Tourist Visa is known as the GCC Grand Tourist Visa that allows travel across the six states of the GCC.
It includes the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain with the same entry permit. GCC ministers ratified the plan in 2023. It is supported by an application system that is digital for an easy itinerary for multi-country travel.
Al-Budaiwi confirmed that the visa is at the end of its technical and digital implementation. The visa is expected to increase the growth of regional tourism and economic development while increasing the competitiveness of the world.
The visa rollout will start with a pilot project by the end of 2025 or in early 2026 and will then move to full implementation throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council.
GCC Grand Tours Visa for Residents
GCC Grand Tours Visa GCC Grand Tours Visa is an innovative initiative to include expatriates in GCC nations, and to acknowledge the diversity of the workforce in the region.
Eligible candidates must possess an active residency permit, like an Iqama or an Emirates ID or an active passport that has at minimum one year’s validity and be free of any entry restrictions.
Although the full list of criteria is still in development the initial filters could comprise professional classes (favoring white collar jobs) as well as income thresholds for the month (estimated between 4,000 and 8,000 AED) and access based on nationality based on diplomatic ties as well as security assessments.
Required Documents and Application Process
Candidates should prepare all the required documents prior to applying via GCC’s digital platform.
- A valid passport (minimum 6-month validity)
- Application form completed with the correct information for the type of visa (single-country or united)
- Recent passport-style photographs that meet biometric standards
- Other documents could include confirmation of lodging, travel itinerary as well as financial statements, insurance and return/onward tickets.
The process for applying is completely online. You can fill out the application fill in the form, upload your documents as well as pay the visa fees and then receive an email confirmation. A printed copy of the visa is recommended, even if the visa is electronically issued.
Visa Validity, Coverage, and Fees
The visa unified will be valid for between 30 and 90 days and offers one- and two-entry options. It permits travel between the 6 GCC countries.
It is possible to apply for a single-country visa or a full GCC Grand Tour visa, with the requirement that they start travel in the country that issued the visa.
Fees range from $90-$130 Processing times are typically 3 to 7 days. Options for expedited processing could be added in the future.
Benefits of the Unified GCC Visa
The visa facilitates travel within the region by combining permits to create one document that can be used in six countries. This helps tourists with distant locations and makes it easier to plan.
The applicants save money by applying in each country individually as well, and the visa is a boon for short trips as well as business trips that require mobility in the region.
Growing Regional Tourism Dynamics
The Gulf region is already an important source market to UAE tourism. By 2024, almost 3.3 million GCC visitors comprised 11% of all hotel guests:
- Saudi Arabia: 1.9 million (58%)
- Oman: 777,000 (24%)
- Kuwait: 381,000 (12%)
- Bahrain: 123,000 (4%)
- Qatar: 93,000 (3%)
Visitors are likely to rise significantly once the unified visa is released, which will ease travel and create new opportunities for hotels, airlines and tourism technology platforms.
The Future of GCC Tourism
The unified visa is set to enter the pilot phase before the end of 2025 or early next year. It is a crucial event for Gulf tourism. The initiative will transform travelling across countries into a seamless experience similar to Europe’s Schengen zone.
With a solid policy framework with a growing infrastructure and a steady growth in tourism with a strong infrastructure, the UAE is the leader in this transition.
The promise for travellers is evident as in the coming days, one visa will allow entry to the six Gulf countries, easing travel and expanding the region’s appeal globally.