The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has approved the implementation of a unified ‘one-stop’ travel system to streamline movement across member states, with the UAE and Bahrain chosen to launch the first phase.
The system will enable Gulf citizens to complete immigration, customs, and security procedures at a single checkpoint, eliminating multiple checks and ensuring smoother cross-border travel.
The initiative coincides with the GCC’s plans to roll out another key step toward regional integration — a unified GCC tourist visa. According to UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the pilot phase of this Schengen-style visa is set to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.
Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb told Reuters that the GCC-wide tourist visa is expected to be fully implemented by 2026, or no later than 2027.
Combined with the new ‘one-stop’ travel system, the unified visa is set to revolutionize travel within the Gulf, making it easier for citizens, residents, and international tourists to move freely across member states.
