"GCC Grand Tours": Date For Schengen-Style Unified Visa For Arab Countries Announced

Now, visiting Riyadh, Doha, Dubai, Muscat, Manama and Kuwait City with one visa is not going to be difficult and not far. In a move set to revolutionise travel across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the much-anticipated “GCC Grand Tours” unified visa has finally received its debut date announcement, promising an eccentric twist to Gulf adventures.

Scheduled for rollout by the end of this year, the GCC Grand Tours visa is poised to streamline travel logistics across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), echoing the ease of Europe”s Schengen visa. With a duration exceeding 30 days, this unified visa aims to unlock boundless exploration opportunities for intrepid globetrotters.

UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri unveiled the exciting news, declaring, “In a significant move aimed at simplifying travel logistics and fostering tourism, the Gulf Cooperation Council has given the green light to a unified tourist visa that will allow travellers to visit all six countries. Through the GCC Grand Tours visa, that we are working on and aiming to finish, will allow tourists to spend more than 30 days in the region.”

Adding to the anticipation, Khalid Jasim Al Midfa of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Authority (SCTDA) shared insights, affirming, “By the end of this year, the whole system should be in place. Many people and teams, led by the Ministry of Economy in the UAE and other ministries in other countries, are working on it tirelessly to make it happen in the best possible way.”

Echoing the simplicity of Europe”s Schengen visa, the GCC Grand Tours visa promises to elevate the Gulf as a premier destination for global adventurers. With unanimous approval from GCC states, this unified visa is poised to catalyze a tourism boom, projecting a staggering 128.7 million visitors by 2030, according to UAE authorities.