All you need to know about GCC Unified Tourist Visa, Gulf’s new Schengen-style visa

What is GCC Unified Tourist Visa

As the name suggests, the GCC Unified Tourist Visa is a tourist visa, offering a simplified travel experience throughout Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.

GCC residents holding a valid residency permit from any of the six countries are eligible to apply. (Photo: Unsplash)

The GCC Unified Tourist Visa was approved in November 2023 during a meeting of GCC interior ministers in Oman and is inspired by the Schengen visa, which allows people to travel across many European countries, known as the Schengen zone, with one travel document.

It simplifies visa processes, offering longer validity and lower costs compared to obtaining six separate visas.

Who can apply for GCC Unified Tourist Visa

According to the UAE Minister of Economy, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the Unified Tourist Visa will grant GCC residents easier mobility, making documents like the Emirates ID more powerful.

GCC residents holding a valid residency permit from any of the six countries, with a passport that is valid for a minimum of 6 months from the application date, and are not on a watchlist or having an entry ban in any of the member states, will be eligible to apply for the GCC Unified Tourist Visa.

GCC Unified Tourist Visa fees and validity

Once finalised, the applications will be available via a digital platform, and according to reports, the visa may offer options for single-country or six-country access, with validity periods of 30 to 90 days.

Though there is no official confirmation yet, the fees for the GCC Unified Tourist Visa is estimated to be around $90-130, and the processing time is likely to be between 3 days and a week.

Tourism has been a key focus across GCC countries. (Photo: Unsplash)

GCC’s focus on tourism

The rollout of the GCC Unified Tourist Visa comes at a time when Gulf countries are in the process of diversifying their oil and natural gas-dependent economies. Tourism has emerged as a key area of focus for countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The UAE has emerged as one of the most sought-after tourist destinations globally in recent years, with Dubai alone welcoming 18.72 million international overnight visitors in 2024. Saudi Arabia, too, has seen record tourism footfall and welcomed 116 million visitors in 2024.

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