Research by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) revealed that travel and tourism contributed 11.7% to the UAE’s GDP in 2023, totaling $59.8 billion.

On the opening day of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE Minister of Economy, emphasized the importance and impact of tourism on the country’s GDP. He explained that the forecast indicates tourism will contribute 12% to the GDP in 2024. Al Marri also announced plans to introduce the GCC Grand Tours visa, a unified Gulf tourist visa.

“In a significant move aimed at simplifying travel logistics and fostering tourism, the GCC has given the green light to a unified tourist visa that will allow travelers to visit all six countries,” he mentioned. 

The GCC Grand Tours visa will permit tourists to stay in the region for more than 30 days. The visa aims to streamline travel logistics, enabling more accessible and cost-effective tourism for GCC visitors. This initiative is anticipated to enhance tourist activity and generate employment opportunities across the region.

Khalid Jasim Al Midfa of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Authority mentioned that the visa is expected to be operational by the end of 2024. He highlighted the importance of leveraging digital transformations, stating, “E-services are crucial to this endeavor as we aim to simplify processes and avoid unnecessary complications while maintaining robust security measures. We share many common security measures with Saudi Arabia, which will streamline the process of obtaining a UAE or GCC visa for all GCC countries.”