Unified Gulf Tourist Visa May Launch By End Of 2025

During a meeting held with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers, the countries have decided to launch the long-awaited unified Gulf visa system before the end of the year. With this, tourists can travel across six member states: the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain. This initiative is similar to Europe’s Schengen visa, aiming to simplify travel logistics and bolster tourism within the region.

Initially, the launch was slated for late 2024 or early 2025; however, the visa implementation faced delays due to security concerns. According to Arab Times Kuwait, GCC Secretary Jassim Al Budaiwi had expressed optimism that a unified Gulf visa system could be finalized before the end of the year.

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A single visa system would bring the long-held dream of a unified Gulf market one step closer. The visa initiative was unveiled by the United Arab Emirates Minister of Economy, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM). The initiative aims to enhance tourism and stimulate economic growth across the GCC region.

Redefining travel across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the nations’ governments unanimously presented the world with a unified Gulf tourist visa, promising boundless adventure for globetrotters. Earlier in March, Oman’s Minister of Heritage and Tourism had indicated that the implementation of the unified Gulf visa would be delayed.

The Minister cited security concerns and differing viewpoints among the GCC member countries as the reasons for the unexpected delay. Furthermore, he highlighted specific considerations regarding certain nationalities, particularly those from countries experiencing conflict and instability. These factors add to the complexities surrounding the visa’s implementation, as security concerns remain paramount.

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During the meeting, the Council had discussed the long-standing Iraq-Kuwait border dispute and had called for Iraq to resolve key pending issues and respect international agreements.