Jassem Al Budaiwi, the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), announced on Wednesday that the GCC would soon introduce a single tourism visa.
Al Budaiwi praised the Gulf member states' joint efforts to advance the program, which is anticipated to revolutionize travel throughout the region. Once implemented, the single visa will enable travelers to roam freely between the six GCC nations: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
The GCC Grand Tours Visa, as it is officially known, will permit travel to:
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
- Oman
- Kuwait
- Qatar
- Bahrain
The 40th meeting of GCC interior ministers in Oman in November 2023 marked the official approval of the unified visa.
These are the visa features that is expected and yet to be confirmed:
- One visa for access to multi-country
- Applicable to family visits and tourism
- Only online applications are accepted.
- Probably valid for 30 to 90 days
- The option to select between access in one or six countries
Travelers will probably be requested to supply the following:
- A passport that is valid for at least six months
- filled-out online application
- A recent passport-sized photograph
- Evidence of accomodation (invitation letter or hotel reservations)
- Travel insurance that covers medical expenses
- Evidence of funds (bank statements or comparable records)
- Ticket for return or further travel
The expected procedure for the application process is as follows:
- Visit the TBA's official visa website.
- Decide if you want a single-country or unified multi-entry visa.
- Complete your trip information and attach supporting documentation.
- Pay the visa cost safely online.
- You will receive the e-visa via email.
- Keep a digital copy for use at airports or print it out.
