Archive · 22 Sep 2025
GCC Unified Tourist Visa: New Visa Simplifies Gulf Travel
Imagine a visa that lets you travel to several countries, like the Schengen visa in Europe!
The GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman) are creating one.
This new visa, called the GCC Unified Tourist Visa, will let people with residency permits from those countries visit all six.
It's designed to make travel easier, cheaper, and faster than getting six separate visas.
The visa is expected to be available before the end of 2025 and will support the growing tourism industry in these countries.
The GCC Unified Tourist Visa is inspired by the Schengen visa model.
It will simplify travel across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.
GCC residents with valid permits can apply.
The visa is in its final approval phase, with rollout planned before 2025 ends.
Tourism is a key focus for GCC countries diversifying from oil economies.
- Who
- GCC residents and tourists
- What
- A unified tourist visa for the GCC countries.
- When
- To be rolled out before the end of 2025.
- Where
- Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.
- Why
- To simplify travel and boost tourism in the GCC countries.
- Visa Name
- GCC Unified Tourist Visa
- Countries Included
- Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman
- Purpose
- Simplified travel for tourism
- Eligibility
- GCC residents with valid residency permits
- Inspired by
- Schengen visa
- Estimated Fees
- $90-$130
- Expected Rollout
- Before the end of 2025