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5/13/24, 4:22 PM GCC Unified Tourist Visa: Everything you need to know | Time Out Dubai
By Findlay Mair May 6, 2024

The system to launch a unified GCC tourist visa will be put in place by the end of 2024.

The GCC Unified Tourist Visa, which will officially be named “GCC Grand Tours”, will allow freedom of
movement between residents in six countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman
and Kuwait.

As visa-free travel is possible for citizens of GCC countries, it’s thought that the new visa will apply to
the millions of non-nationals living in the region. This will also allow tourists to spend more than 30
days in the GCC.

Plans for the new GCC Unified Tourist Visa were officially approved late in 2023 following a
unanimous vote by ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council at a meeting in Oman.

The visa is aimed at encouraging tourism within the region and growing each nation’s tourist
economy.

It was announced at the Arabian Travel Market on Monday May 6 that the UAE and other Gulf
countries are working with large tourist operators to create holiday packages that take care of the
entire region.

When can we get a GCC Unified Tourist

Visa?

This new visa is believed to be officially rolled out as early as the end of 2024 or in the start of 2025.

Current hold-ups appear to be related to how ready each government’s internal systems are to
introduce the new visa.

For now, UAE residents have different conditions for travelling within the GCC so the introduction of
the new GCC Unified Tourist Visa will allow for more consistency. It’s expected to greatly streamline
the process when travelling in different nations.

Current rules for intra-regional GCC travel

from the UAE

UAE citizens do not need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia and can stay for up to 90 days but people just
living in UAE do require a visa.

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