If your dream trip wanders the Grand Mosque and the Gold Souks of the United Arab Emirates, run through palm-covered mountains of dates in Oman, perusing Qatar museums, going for a pearl diving in Bahrain, and experiencing the adoration of Hegra, you will be in Multi Arabia with adoration of breath. bay.
In a drastic move to transform travel in the Middle East, the Gulf countries announced plans to implement a unified tourist visa, allowing visitors to move freely through Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates under a single entry permit.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Grand Tour Visa (or GCC Unified Visa), a long-standing initiative modeled after the European Schengen visa system, is scheduled to be released by the end of 2025 or early 2026.
“The unified visas on the Gulf are a meaningful step to enabling broader regional exploration, especially as interest in culturally rich regions continues to grow,” said Tom Manchester, product manager at Exodus Adventure Travels, which currently runs tours in Oman and Saudi Arabia. “Simplifying the planning process will facilitate integrated itinerary and greatly welcome efforts to streamline entry requirements.”
Under the proposed framework, travelers in eligible countries can apply for a unified visa online via a centralized digital portal (the same portal will be used for single country and multicountry visas). The website will provide you with important documents such as a valid passport, proof of accommodation, details of return or subsequent flights, proof of financial instruments, and travel insurance. The visa will be issued electronically and is expected to allow a stay of at least 30 days, but the exact duration and multiple input options are still under discussion.
Visa fees are paid online using a debit or credit card, and approved applicants will receive a digital visa via email. The total visa fees have not been determined yet depending on the country travellers visit, but a single fee may prove to be more cost-effective. Currently, Americans need to pay $132 for a Bahrain visa, $150 for a Kuwait visa, $130 for an Omani visa and $107 for a Saudi visa (Qatar and the United Arab Emirates offer free 30-day visas to Americans).
Authorities also say the visas will be limited to tourism and short-term family visits, excluding work or long-term residential purposes.
For the time being, each of the six GCC countries maintains their own visa systems with different requirements, fees and entry rules. This has traditionally made multiculturalet trips a hassle, especially for tourists from outside the area. The new visa aims to eliminate that friction by creating a single, centralized application process. It also makes travelers more likely to travel across borders, whether on air, roads or cruises.
The move is part of a broader strategy to increase tourism contribution to the Gulf economy, particularly as countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are looking to diversify beyond oil. While the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have long been international transport hubs (and popular places for stopover holidays), a unified visa can increase visibility and pedestrian traffic to destinations such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman.
Details such as visa fees and eligible nationalities have not yet been finalized, but GCC officials say these factors will be announced later this year ahead of the launch of Grand Tours Visa.
