What Travelers Should Know About GCC Unified Visa Rules

The preparation of the new unified visa for the Gulf region is reaching its final stages. Jassim Al-Budaiwi, who serves as Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, has stated that the visa is likely to be launched by late 2025 once all legal and technical processes are completed.

The Gulf Grand Tours visa will function similarly to the European Schengen visa. It will allow travelers to move between the Gulf states without facing separate entry requirements. 

Travel from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates through Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain will become more streamlined and convenient for tourists and visitors.

The expected validity is between one and three months, which would give visitors enough time to explore all six countries freely.

The visa is designed for tourism and short-term visits. It is not applicable for work or labor-related purposes. Individuals who use the visa for employment risk facing consequences. 

As of now, the visa fees have not been disclosed. Still, the cost is expected to be lower than applying separately for all six national visas.

The visa will be issued through an online platform. Tourists will need to complete an application form and submit the required documents, including hotel reservations, travel tickets, health insurance, employment information, and other basic requirements.

The visa is expected to be available for travelers from European and American countries and countries that are currently eligible for an eVisa or visa on arrival. 

Citizens of Gulf countries will not require this visa as they already enjoy free movement across member states.

The primary goal of the unified Gulf visa is to strengthen cooperation between the six countries and promote tourism across the area. Travel agencies have started to explore how the visa can be used to promote multi-country trips.

The unified visa is also expected to support future regional infrastructure projects. Among them is a proposed railway network connecting the capitals of Gulf countries. This development would improve travel for residents, tourists, and workers while also encouraging investment.

The railway is expected to cover approximately 2117 kilometers. It will start in Kuwait, then move to Dammam in Saudi Arabia before extending to Bahrain.

From there, the route will continue to Qatar. It will then connect Saudi Arabia with the United Arab Emirates and finally reach the Sultanate of Oman through the city of Sohar.