It’s confirmed that the launch of theUnified GCC Tourist Visa has been postponed and will take place sometime in 2026. Earlier, the Unified GCC Tourist Visa, also known as the Grand Tours Visa, was anticipated to roll out in 2025.
The extended technical and security preparations, along with ongoing discussions among the authorities, have caused the delay, said officials.
This delay means travellers need to wait longer for a smooth and uninterrupted travelling experience across Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emiratesand Qatar,the Gulf nations.
Understanding the GCC Grand Tours Visa
The GCC Grand Tours Visa initiative was proposed and approved by the GCC interior ministers in November 2023. This initiative allows travellers to move freely on a single visa across the six countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
The concept of the GCC Grand Tours Visa is similar to Europe’s Schengen Visa. Once implemented, it will support multi-country travel within the GCC, making it much easier for travellers.
Approval Granted, but still in Progress.
In November 2023, the GCC interior ministers approved the Unified GCC Tourist Visa. However, the officials indicated that by the end of 2025, the project would enter the pilot phase and a full launch later on.
However, aligning the complex internal procedures and immigration processes across the six sovereign nations is the primary reason for the postponement.
With distinct border control processes, security procedures and biometric screening systems, these countries need to work together consistently. All these essential factors must be addressed before the visa is made available to travellers.
Tourism Growth Still the Central Plan
The growth in tourism across these six Gulf countries remains the central idea of the GCC Grand Tourist Visa plan. Despite the delay, the tourism authorities support the Grand Tourist Visa.
According to UN Tourism data, the GCC received over 68 million international travellers in 2023, but only a small share of travellers travelled across the Gulf countries.
Officials believe that after the launch of the unified GCC Tourist Visa, tourism between these six nations might increase by at least 20%. The visitors could also stay longer, up to 7 nights, rather than 3.5 nights.
Long-term Strategic Importance remains Intact.
The long-term goals of the Unified GCC Tourist Visa continue to focus on enhancing tourism and economic plans across the Gulf. Saudi Arabia’s long-term strategic aim of welcoming 150 million visitors each year by 2030, and Dubai’s visitors’ numbers, depend highly on the travel links between these 6 Gulf countries.
Also, despite the disappointment among Gulf travellers, the positive outlook is a safer, more reliable single-visa system that will work well for all 6 Gulf nations.
IMPORTANT NOTICE - For a detailed overview visit the online Oman eVisa portal.
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