Gulf Cooperation Council Announces Next Steps for Unified Visa Initiative

Key Point 

• The GCC has confirmed plans to launch a unified tourist visa allowing travel across six member states 

GCC Unified Tourist Visa 

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced in September 2025 that it will introduce a Schengen-style visa enabling travel across Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman under a single permit. 

The visa will be issued through a centralized digital platform and is expected to offer multiple-entry access with a validity of 30 to 90 days. It will apply to tourism only. Each member state will maintain authority over entry conditions, security checks, and admissibility decisions. 

Next Steps  

The government plans to launch the visa in 2025, once final implementation steps are complete. It will cover tourism only, allowing each member state to control entry conditions and security screening. The initiative seeks to boost regional tourism, streamline travel, and enhance economic integration across the Gulf.

Background on the GCC Unified Tourist Visa  

This update builds on a previous announcement from July 2023, when GCC officials first outlined the framework for a regional tourist visa aimed at boosting tourism and economic cooperation. The latest details confirm that each member state will retain control over entry conditions and security screening. Meanwhile, the unified visa will streamline travel logistics for international visitors.

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