Gulf Countries Prepare Unified Tourist Visa

The Middle East is once again discussing the introduction of a unified visa for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The project is expected to simplify travel across the region and is planned to launch soon, although similar announcements have been made several times before, Khaleej Times reports.

Visa for Six Middle Eastern Countries

GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said on September 6 that the unified tourist visa, also known as the GCC Grand Tourist Visa, would be launched soon and make travel easier for foreign visitors. It will cover the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.

Representatives of the Gulf countries approved the initiative in autumn 2023. Its introduction was initially planned within the following two years. The project became part of the GCC’s joint tourism strategy for 2023–2030, which envisaged annual growth of 7% in inbound tourism and 8% in tourism revenues.

In 2022, the GCC countries received 39.8 million visitors, up 136.6% from 2021. At the time, the region had 10,649 hotels with 674,832 rooms, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE leading the market. According to UN Tourism data, the Gulf countries received more than 68 million international visitors in 2023, although travel within the region accounted for just over a quarter of the total. Officials estimated that the unified visa could increase intra-Gulf tourism by at least 20%, while the average length of stay could rise from 3.5 nights to almost seven. By 2030, the GCC had planned to increase the number of visits to 128.7 million and international tourism revenues to $188 billion.

The launch of the unified GCC visa has since been postponed several times due to various outstanding issues. In 2025, the reasons included the need to harmonise immigration rules and security systems across the six states, as well as coordinate visa procedures, data sharing and border-control processes.

GCC Passport Control: Changing Procedures

The unified visa is not the only initiative being pursued by the Gulf countries. Other measures are also being introduced to attract tourists. In November 2025, for example, GCC states approved a simplified passport-control mechanism for air passengers. In February 2026, it began being tested on routes between Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain International Airport.

The necessary procedures are completed before departure, meaning passengers do not need to undergo another check by a border-control officer upon arrival. The system relies on electronic data exchange, biometric identification and automated e-gates.

For now, the system is being used only between the UAE and Bahrain. Its further expansion is expected to reduce formalities for air travel between the Gulf states. Albudaiwi said such initiatives are part of the broader integration process within the GCC, which has already led to the creation of a free trade area, a Customs Union and a Common Market. He identified tourism, transport and logistics as areas for further cooperation.

Tourism Prospects in the Middle East

Analysts at International Investment note that the latest statements on the unified visa have come at a particularly difficult time for the Middle East. Regional integration plans have already been seriously disrupted by the outbreak of fighting involving the US, Israel and Iran. Attempts to secure a ceasefire have been made repeatedly, but the parties have failed to consolidate agreements. Negotiations have periodically broken down, followed by renewed clashes. After an almost month-long lull, tensions escalated again in late August. In September, the US and Iran continued to exchange strikes.

Diplomatic channels, however, remain open. A meeting between the foreign ministers of the GCC countries and their Iranian counterpart is scheduled for September 14 in Oman. The participants are expected to discuss the security of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while the prospects for a broader political agreement remain unclear.

For the tourism market and businesses, the tense situation creates additional risks. The unified visa would significantly simplify travel, but continuing security concerns could weigh on tourist demand. Having the common system ready will not be enough. Stable transport routes and an improvement in regional security will also be essential.