A long-anticipated dream of seamless travel across the Gulf moved decisively closer to reality on November 7, 2025, when Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb confirmed that the single “GCC Grand Tours Visa” will go live in 2026. Speaking at the Gulf Gateway Investment Forum in Manama, the minister said technical integration among the six member states—United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman—has reached a ‘major milestone’ after four years of coordination.
The unified visa will operate much like Europe’s Schengen scheme, allowing travellers to enter any GCC country and move freely across the bloc for up to 90 days on one digital permit. Early drafts seen by industry stakeholders suggest two price tiers: a single-country option for short trips and a multi-country pass for longer itineraries. Applicants will upload passports, insurance and proof of funds to a central portal, with approval e-mailed in 48 hours.
![GCC Unified Visa Confirmed for 2026 Launch After Manama Forum]()
For the UAE’s tourism and MICE sectors, the move is a game-changer. Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism estimates that only 47 percent of the 150 million air passengers who transited Gulf hubs last year actually visited more than one GCC state. Airlines such as Emirates and flydubai are already mapping new circular routings that link Dubai, Riyadh and Doha on one ticket, while hotel groups see packages combining Expo City Dubai with Saudi’s AlUla heritage sites.
The announcement also answers a major request from multinational companies that base regional headquarters in Dubai or Abu Dhabi but maintain sales teams across the Gulf. HR and mobility managers have long complained about multiple visa fees, inconsistent entry rules and tight validity windows. A single permit will cut compliance costs, simplify duty-of-care, and allow quicker deployment of project teams.
Yet hurdles remain. Sources close to the working group say the biggest sticking point is security data-sharing. Each state must trust the others’ watch-list vetting before agreeing to automatic entry. A phased roll-out starting with Gulf nationals and select low-risk markets is likely. The UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) has already upgraded its API systems to cross-check passenger manifests in real time.
The unified visa will operate much like Europe’s Schengen scheme, allowing travellers to enter any GCC country and move freely across the bloc for up to 90 days on one digital permit. Early drafts seen by industry stakeholders suggest two price tiers: a single-country option for short trips and a multi-country pass for longer itineraries. Applicants will upload passports, insurance and proof of funds to a central portal, with approval e-mailed in 48 hours.
For the UAE’s tourism and MICE sectors, the move is a game-changer. Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism estimates that only 47 percent of the 150 million air passengers who transited Gulf hubs last year actually visited more than one GCC state. Airlines such as Emirates and flydubai are already mapping new circular routings that link Dubai, Riyadh and Doha on one ticket, while hotel groups see packages combining Expo City Dubai with Saudi’s AlUla heritage sites.
The announcement also answers a major request from multinational companies that base regional headquarters in Dubai or Abu Dhabi but maintain sales teams across the Gulf. HR and mobility managers have long complained about multiple visa fees, inconsistent entry rules and tight validity windows. A single permit will cut compliance costs, simplify duty-of-care, and allow quicker deployment of project teams.
Yet hurdles remain. Sources close to the working group say the biggest sticking point is security data-sharing. Each state must trust the others’ watch-list vetting before agreeing to automatic entry. A phased roll-out starting with Gulf nationals and select low-risk markets is likely. The UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) has already upgraded its API systems to cross-check passenger manifests in real time.
