Tourism and Insurance Sectors to Gain From Unified GCC Visa

Travel across the Gulf is set to become more convenient, with wide-ranging effects for both tourism and travel insurance. The upcoming Unified GCC Visa, expected to begin its pilot phase by the end of this year, will allow residents and visitors to move freely between all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Industry analysts are calling the visa a major shift in how travelers experience the region. Experts believe it will encourage shorter, more frequent trips, such as weekend getaways and multi-city leisure and business travel across the Gulf.

According to travel professionals, this level of access is likely to reshape how trips are planned and how insurance is purchased. “From a travel expert’s lens, it will make multi-country travel within the Gulf far more seamless, similar to how the Schengen model encourages cross-border trips in Europe,” one expert stated. 

This shift is also expected to impact the insurance industry. A regional visa means travelers will need coverage that applies across all GCC states. “The introduction of a unified GCC visa will make regional travel much easier, and that’s expected to positively impact the travel insurance market,” said another industry source.

One of the biggest changes will be in how travel insurance policies are structured. Experts agree that it will no longer make sense for travelers to purchase separate policies for each destination. Insurers will need to offer flexible, affordable plans with broad geographical coverage and simplified cross-border claims.

Insurance providers will need to develop GCC-wide policies that cover all six member states. These plans will be designed to meet the needs of modern travelers, including expatriates and families planning trips that span multiple countries in one visit.

For those preparing to travel under the new visa system, experts emphasize the importance of choosing the right insurance. Travelers should confirm that their plan covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, flight delays, baggage loss, and hospitalization across borders. 

It is also recommended to select a policy that includes 24/7 assistance and unified claims support throughout the GCC region.

As the Gulf moves closer to full implementation of the unified visa, both the tourism and insurance sectors are adjusting to meet new demands.