In a recent announcement, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) mentioned its plan to introduce a unified Schengen-style tourist visa by the end of 2025. This Schengen-style unified visa will allow travellers to visit and explore all the 6 GCC countries — the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar — using a single visa. This will simplify the cross-border travel while boosting tourism, and position the Gulf region as one cohesive global destination.

The proposed GCC Grand Tourist Visa is designed to function similarly to Europe’s Schengen visa, offering travellers the flexibility to move between member states without the need for multiple permits. As per the official confirmation, the pilot phase for this visa is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025, once the technical and administrative frameworks are aligned. This announcement is a part of a broader strategy to strengthen regional economic cooperation and encourage longer stays for international visitors who wish to explore multiple Gulf countries or destinations in a single trip.

The exact details of this visa category — including its cost, duration, eligibility, and validity — are yet to be finalized by the authorities. Meanwhile authorities are optimistic that this move will streamline tourism operations across borders. This development will highly benefit the hospitality, aviation, and events industries, which have been experiencing significant growth in the post-pandemic travel surge.

This introduction of a single entry point to the entire Gulf region will prove to be a big boost for the entire Gulf region. It will further means simpler trip planning and potentially lower overall costs. Vistors will now be able to enjoy seamless movement between iconic destinations such as Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, Muscat, and Manama without even applying for separate visas for each country. The initiative could make the GCC one of the most accessible and competitive multi-destination regions in the world, rivaling established travel zones like the European Union’s Schengen area.

Although these are just intial plans now and implementing it will be real challenge for the authorities. Such a large-scale project will require strong commitment and coordination among all member states. Authorities will be required to loosen the stricter visa norms and policies along with other security protocols, and digital immigration systems to ensure smooth processing of visas. Its implementation will prove to be one of the biggest challenges for the officials in terms of alignement of these complex administrative and technological elements.

For now, its a positive news for travellers and they can look forward to a more connected Gulf travel experience. If implemented successfully, it will make Gulf travel easier and smoother. The GCC Grand Tourist Visa will not only make travel easier for tourists but will also mark a new era of regional collaboration in the Middle East.

MusafirBaba will continue to track this development and share updates as more details become available about the launch, application process, and benefits for international visitors planning their next Gulf journey.