All you need to know about GCC Unified Tour Visa, Gulf’s new Schengen-style visa | World News

Imagine being able to travel across the Gulf with just one visa! What was until now a privilege of citizens from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will soon be available to all residents, with the new GCC Grand Tours Visa, also known as the GCC Unified Visa or GCC visa.
GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi confirmed on Monday that the GCC Unified Tour Visa, which was announced earlier this year, is in the final approval phase and will be rolled out before the end of 2025.
What is GCC Unified Tour Visa
As the name suggests, the GCC Unified Tour Visa is a tour visa, offering a simplified travel experience throughout Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.
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GCC residents holding a valid residency permit from any of the six countries are eligible to apply. (Photo: Unsplash)
The GCC Unified Tour Visa was approved in November 2023 during a meeting of GCC interior miners in Oman and is inspired 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 Tour Visa
According to the UAE Miner of Economy, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the Unified Tour 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 watchl or having an entry ban in any of the member states, will be eligible to apply for the GCC Unified Tour Visa.Story continues below this ad
GCC Unified Tour 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 Tour 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 Tour 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 tour 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.