DUBAI, Oct 5: The long-anticipated GCC unified tourist visa also called  'GCC Grand Tourist Visa', modeled after Europe’s Schengen visa, is set to begin its pilot phase by Q4 2025, offering travelers seamless access to all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

The landmark initiative — described as a major leap toward regional integration — was announced by Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, during World Tourism Day remarks to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

“This is a strategic step towards deeper regional integration,” said Al Marri, “and it will significantly enhance the Gulf’s appeal as a unified global tourism destination.”

Once implemented, the GCC Grand Tourist Visa will allow single-entry access to all six participating countries, with stays of over 30 days permitted. A digital application platform will support the visa rollout, aimed at simplifying travel planning and minimizing administrative hurdles for tourists exploring multiple destinations in the Gulf.

Jassim Al-Budaiwi, GCC Secretary-General, confirmed the visa is now in its final technical and digital development stage, with full implementation planned after the pilot phase concludes.

The visa was officially approved by GCC tourism ministers in 2023.

Kuwait, one of the participating nations in the unified visa scheme, is expected to see an increase in inbound and outbound tourism once the system goes live. In 2024, the UAE welcomed 381,000 Kuwaiti visitors, accounting for 12% of all tourists from the GCC.

The introduction of the unified visa is expected to stimulate regional demand, allowing more Kuwaitis to explore neighboring Gulf destinations with ease, while positioning Kuwait itself as a more accessible hub for regional tourists.

At Kuwait International Airport, preparations are already underway to adapt to anticipated changes in travel flows under the upcoming visa system, aligning with broader GCC efforts to enhance cross-border mobility.

The unified visa comes amid a robust tourism surge in the region — particularly in the UAE. By mid-September 2025, the UAE had issued 39,546 commercial licenses in tourism-linked sectors, including hospitality, aviation, and digital tourism, marking a 275% increase compared to 2020.

According to Al Marri, this rapid growth is the result of policy reforms and investment incentives that continue to attract global tourism and hospitality players.

With the GCC Grand Tourist Visa on track for its pilot launch by the end of 2025, the Gulf region is approaching a historic transformation in travel — making multi-country itineraries as effortless as trips across the Schengen zone in Europe.

Though final implementation details are still being finalized, the objectives of the unified GCC tourist visa are well-defined:

These functional benefits support the GCC’s broader vision of long-term economic and infrastructure integration.

More than just a tourism facilitation measure, the visa serves as a strategic policy instrument to strengthen the Gulf’s global appeal as a unified, competitive travel destination.