The highly anticipated GCC unified tourist visa is set to be launched as a trial later this year.
The Schengen-style visa, to be called the “GCC Grand Tours”, will allow freedom of movement between the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Countries included in the system are Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
In an interview in September, Jassim Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, confirmed that the visa is nearing its official rollout, entering its final approval phase after years of planning.
As part of the implementation process, travellers will soon be able to apply online for a unified GCC visa through a digital platform.
The trial phase will come in the final months of this year, before a full implementation of the visa at a later date.
Visa-free travel is already available for citizens of GCC countries across the region, but the GCC Grand Tours Visa will enable the millions of foreign nationals living in the region to travel freely.
It will simplify the process of getting visas and will likely have a longer validity period and lower overall costs compared to obtaining six separate visas.
Plans for the new GCC Unified Tourist Visa were officially approved late in 2023 following a unanimous vote by ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council at a meeting in Oman.
The visa is aimed at encouraging tourism within the region and growing each nation’s tourist economy.
When can we get a GCC Unified Tourist Visa?
GCC Unified Tourist Visa
Doha.
The visa looks set to be launched initially as a trial in 2025 before a wider rollout.
Ministers representing the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries met in Riyadh back in June 2025 to discuss the unified tourist visa project.
The nations are working closely together to keep pace with technological developments across the world and to meet the security requirements of each country.
For now, Qatar residents have different conditions for travelling within the GCC, so the introduction of the new GCC Unified Tourist Visa will allow for more consistency. It’s expected to greatly streamline the process when travelling across the region.
Applicants will likely be able to choose between one-country or six-country access and the validity period of the visa may be between 30 and 90 days.
Current visa rules for GCC travel
Qatar citizens do not need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia and can stay for up to 90 days but people residing in the country do require a eVisa.
In Bahrain, it’s a similar story as Qatar natives don’t require a visa to enter, but passport holders of other countries who reside in the UAE need either an eVisa or a Bahrain on-arrival visa.
Riyadh Saudi Arabia Travel could soon be easier with the introduction of the GCC Unified Tourist Visa
Oman is open to Qatar citizens without the need for a visa, but Qatar residents must obtain an eVisa. Tourists can also apply for the joint tourist visa for 30 days of travel in both countries.
Citizens and residents of all GCC countries can enter Kuwait without a visa by presenting a valid GCC ID card, following an announcement in August 2025.
UAE allows GCC residents and citizens to enter for a period of no longer than 30 days, which can only be extended once with an eVisa.
As the details of the visa have not yet been fully ironed out, the requirements to get your hands on one are also not yet confirmed.
However, it has previously been hinted by the UAE Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri that the visa will apply to residents within the GCC rather than just passport holders.
In November 2023 Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri said: “Hopefully, we are going to see something around a pan-GCC visa which will allow easier mobility of people within the GCC.
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