In 2023, ministers from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries met in Oman to discuss a proposal that could reshape tourism across the region: introducing a unified visa system—a Schengen-like visa to travel across the Gulf countries. While no formal announcement has been made, allowing travelers to move between GCC countries, like Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, with a single visa has gained traction, reflecting growing momentum toward regional integration in the tourism sector.

Currently, tourists must apply for separate visas to visit each GCC country, creating logistical and financial barriers to multi-destination travel. As Gulf nations ramp up efforts to diversify their economies and attract international visitors, a shared visa framework is increasingly seen as a practical step to enhance connectivity and streamline travel across borders.

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Tourism has become a significant tool for economic development and diversification among the GCC countries. According to the latest data released by the GCC Statistical Centre, the travel and tourism sector contributes 11.4% to GCC’s GDP. The average annual growth rate of the sector’s contribution during the period from 2024 to 2034 is expected to exceed 4.2%.

Last February, at the eighth meeting of GCC tourism ministers in Qatar, where ministers considered ways to strengthen collaboration to implement the tourist visa, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, said a unified GCC visa would be a “significant milestone” for the industry. He added that the unification of tourist visas would greatly enhance the global appeal of Gulf countries as top tourist destinations.

This was followed by the UAE’s Minister of Economy, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, unveiling the GCC Grand Tours initiative at the 2024 Arabian Travel Market, allowing tourists to spend up to 30 days across the region.

However, since then, there have been no significant updates on its progress.

Although implementation details remain under discussion, the concept aligns with broader regional goals to position the Gulf as a cohesive, world-class destination for global travelers.

“A unified GCC visa is something very, very big and very positive,” says Michael Kortbawi, Co-Founder and Senior Partner at BSA Law. “It will add a lot of value to the region by establishing a unified identity—much like Schengen did for Europe.” Beyond easing travel and boosting tourism, he sees the initiative as symbolic of a broader integration effort, enabling the GCC countries to present themselves as a cohesive bloc on the global stage. “It’s not just about the convenience of visiting multiple countries,” he adds. “It’s about establishing common ground and mutual trust.”

According to Moe Alhaj, CEO of Migrate World, a unified visa would be a significant milestone, enabling seamless travel for tourism, business, and healthcare across the region. “The impact would be very high,” says Alhaj. 

“It will be a game-changer for tourism across the region,” says Bianca Nastase, Cluster General Manager of Th8 Palm Beach Resort and Wyndham Residences. She believes the new visa policy will significantly boost international inbound travel by easing access and encouraging multi-destination trips across the Gulf. “We’ll attract a new wave of travelers who feel more confident exploring the region,” she says, adding that this shift will likely shorten individual stays in destinations like Dubai while increasing overall regional traffic.

According to Cosmin Ivan, CEO of Platinumlist, greater freedom of travel within GCC countries will significantly boost tourism by enhancing mobility and expanding opportunities for events and attractions. “Tourism will feel a big boost in everything the industry has to offer,” Ivan said.

LEGAL AND SECURITY HURDLES 

Despite the enthusiasm, Kortbawi acknowledges major legal challenges that are delaying the rollout. “First, we need to define what kind of visa it will be—just a visit visa, or one that extends to work and residency?” he explains. “Either way, we need unified systems for security screening, data protection, jurisdiction, and immigration policies.”

The legal framework would require deep alignment on national laws—especially regarding law enforcement authority, labor regulations, and visa violations. “If someone overstays, or commits a legal offense, which country has jurisdiction—the one that issued the visa or the one the person is in?” Kortbawi asks. “These are sensitive issues that need high-level treaties and national legislation to be resolved.”

While the visa’s rollout has faced delays, likely due to efforts to unify immigration systems and ensure proper safeguards for overstays and violations, Alhaj says the demand and benefits are clear. 

“People from Europe or the West could make the most of their trip, visiting two or three destinations in one go,” he adds. 

BENEFITS FOR THE REGION 

Kortbawi draws a parallel to the Schengen Agreement, which began in 1985 and was fully implemented in 1995. “It simplified travel, boosted tourism and trade, and most importantly, helped forge a European identity,” he says. He believes the GCC can achieve similar results, especially as countries shift away from oil dependency and toward tourism and service-driven economies. “A tourist coming to Dubai could easily visit Oman, Bahrain, or Saudi Arabia on the same trip, and Dubai’s marketing efforts would benefit the entire region.”

The hospitality sector stands to gain from the unified GCC visa. But is the sector ready? “Dubai is ready—we’ve been growing consistently and have the infrastructure. But less developed countries will need to accelerate their readiness, particularly in building up skilled hospitality talent,” Nastaste says.

Nastase also foresees strong growth in MICE tourism, noting that “international conferences will finally be easier to host, without the past visa hurdles for attendees from multiple countries.”

Ivan emphasizes that an increased ease of travel will remove a major psychological barrier for visitors. “Today, it’s all about the commodity. You need to be very relaxed when you do something. Every extra step will stop people from making decisions. So as seamless as it [travel] becomes, the easier it will be for people to fly out or move to the next country,” he noted.

He also predicts a major shift in marketing strategies, with organizers adapting to a larger, regional audience. “If your horizon is bigger, you will change how you market things,” Ivan said. “Maybe even radically new roles like regional marketing managers could emerge just because of this initiative.”

TIMELINE UNCERTAIN, BUT BUILDING MOMENTUM

While no official date has been set, Alhaj is hopeful for progress by late 2025 or early 2026.

“2025 might be ambitious due to the complexity of aligning immigration systems, but I’m confident the momentum is there. With Saudi Arabia and the UAE already collaborating, I wouldn’t be surprised if it rolls out sooner than expected,” Nastaste says. 

Kortbawi notes that delays are now pushing it to 2027. “Security screening remains the biggest challenge—what’s acceptable in one country might not be in another, based on nationality or other criteria,” he says. 

He points to broader infrastructure projects, like the pan-GCC railway, as evidence of the region’s long-term commitment to unity. “This visa is part of a much larger vision to connect the GCC—and even the wider Arab world—in meaningful, practical ways.”

Highlighting the visa’s broader impact, Ivan adds, “If all GCC countries shine together with one unified effort, this will have a huge echo in the tourism market.”