Latest updates for Unified Tourist Visa for GCC countries

In the most recent GCC visa news, the GCC countries are moving closer to the launch of the unified GCC tourist visa as they conclude their ninth meeting in Kuwait on February 16 and 17. 

The meeting saw ministers and undersecretaries responsible for tourism in the Gulf discussing the next steps to strengthen tourism in the region. Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE Minister of Economy and the Chairman of the Emirates Tourism, led the UAE delegation at the meeting and shared several key updates regarding tourism initiatives in the Gulf. 

Al Marri said that the UAE is keen to help strengthen joint Gulf tourism integration and execute tourism plans and strategies designed to sustain Gulf tourism and promote the growth of the GCC economies. 

The UAE Minister of Economy highlighted the tourism boom in the Gulf, with international tourism arrivals rising above pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, 68.1 million tourists arrived in the GCC countries, which was a drastic rise of 42.8% from 2019. 

The combined revenue from international tourism in the GCC countries also climbed by 28.2% in the same period, reaching $110.4 billion, according to the Statistical Center for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. 

Al Marri stressed the importance of capitalizing on the growing tourism sector by identifying and seizing new opportunities for Gulf tourism both regionally and internationally. He also highlighted the need for greater regional cooperation under the GCC Tourism Strategy 2023-2030 and the importance of forging strong ties with prominent international tourism markets ahead of the launch of the GCC tourist visa. 

He said, “The meeting represents an important step to enhance joint efforts to activate the unified Gulf tourist visa in the coming period, as it will contribute to achieving a qualitative shift in the Gulf tourism sector by highlighting the diverse tourism components of the GCC countries, and attracting tourists and keeping them for long periods.”

Al Marri shared that Al Ain had been chosen as the capital of Gulf tourism for 2025 and that many promotional tourism events and programs will be held in the city throughout the year, enhancing the growth of inter-tourism rates between the GCC countries. 

The Minister also shared about the need to share expertise and tourism statistics and data according to global best practices and the value of improving collaboration between the tourism and culture sectors within the GCC. 

Al Marri noted the UAE pays attention to promoting sustainable growth of the tourism sector by following global best practices. Due to the National Tourism Strategy 2031, the UAE has seen promising results in the tourism sector, with hotel revenues reaching AED 37.1 billion from January to October 2024. This marked a 4% increase from the same period in 2023. The hotel occupancy rates were approximately 78% in the same period, marking a 2.7% increase. 

He commended the recommendations and outcomes of the meeting and affirmed the UAE’s commitment to collaborate with the other GCC member states to enhance the effectiveness of joint tourism initiatives and projects in anticipation of the launch of the GCC unified visa.