Page 816 - MOE ENGLISH PR - MAY 2024

Rollout and implementation of visa system

While an official rollout date was not provided, Khalid Jasim Al Midfa of
Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Authority indicated that the system should be
operational by the end of 2024.

“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, emphasising digital transformation,” said Al Midfa.

Al Midfa highlighted the collaborative efforts among ministries to ensure a
seamless and digitally transformed visa system.

Economic impact and tourism growth

Al Marri emphasised the economic significance of tourism. The minister cited
the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) research and stated that
travel and tourism contributed 11.7 per cent to the UAE’s GDP last year,
amounting to Dhs220bn.

“The forecast is set even higher, with an anticipated contribution of 12 per
cent to our GDP, equating to Dh236bn,” he added.

“I believe that our regional ambitions should not be to recover to pre-pandemic
benchmarks but exceed them merely,” said Al Marri.

Benefits and prospects

The ‘GCC Grand Tours’ visa aims to simplify travel logistics, making tourism
within the GCC more accessible and cost-effective for visitors. This initiative is
expected to boost tourist activity and create employment opportunities across
the region.

The introduction of the unified visa system underscores the GCC’s
commitment to promoting tourism and economic growth, positioning the
region as a leading tourist destination on the global stage.

https://gulfbusiness.com/unified-tourism-initiative-by-2024-end-details-of-gcc-grand-tours-visa-
revealed-at-atm-2024/