UAE and Bahrain Launch GCC ‘One-Stop’ Travel Pilot

A new regional travel system aimed at easing movement between Gulf countries is now underway, as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain begin testing a one-stop travel system approved by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The project was officially introduced at the 42nd GCC Interior Ministers meeting held in Kuwait City. According to the GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the pilot phase will begin this month and cover air travel routes between the two participating nations.

The new framework allows GCC nationals to complete immigration, security, and customs procedures at a single checkpoint.

Officials said this first step could eventually lead to full implementation across all six GCC countries, depending on the outcome of the trial period.

It has been indicated that the system is designed to streamline travel by handling all clearance requirements prior to departure. The goal is to improve the overall flow of people across Gulf borders and reduce processing delays.

This development comes as the GCC prepares to launch another major initiative, a regional tourist visa program. The “GCC Grand Tourist Visa” is expected to enter its trial phase later this year, according to UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri.

Al Marri described the upcoming visa as an important move to present the Gulf as a connected tourism hub. He added that the program supports wider efforts to improve cross-border collaboration among member states.

Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Minister, Ahmed Al Khateeb, stated in an earlier interview that the full rollout of the unified visa could take place in either 2026 or 2027.