Gulf tourism ministers have confirmed that the long-anticipated Unified GCC Tourist Visa—nicknamed the “Grand Tours Visa”—will enter pilot phase in the last quarter of 2025, with the announcement published on 26 October 2025. Travellers will soon be able to visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait on one permit, echoing Europe’s Schengen model and replacing the current patchwork of individual visas.
Speaking to media, UAE Minister of Economy and Emirates Tourism Council Chair Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri called the project a “strategic milestone that transforms six destinations into a single connected itinerary.” The unified visa is expected to reduce administrative friction, lengthen average stays, and encourage multi-city business trips—an appealing prospect for conference organisers, hospitality groups and logistics providers that already use Dubai as a regional hub.
Industry analysts forecast a sharp uptick in intra-Gulf passenger flows once the scheme goes live, citing Europe’s 30 per cent tourist-night jump after Schengen’s introduction. Airlines such as Emirates and flydubai are likely to redeploy capacity to secondary Gulf cities, while corporate-travel managers may consolidate regional meetings into single itineraries, cutting costs and carbon footprints.
Implementation will roll out in phases to stress-test border IT systems and data-sharing protocols. During the pilot, authorities will monitor biometric gates, overstayer alerts and revenue-sharing mechanisms for visa fees. A full public launch date—and pricing—will follow a technical review by interior ministries. Businesses are advised to audit employee-mobility policies so they can capitalise on simplified travel once the pilot opens.
Beyond tourism, the visa signals deeper economic integration across the GCC’s US$2-trillion bloc, aligning with plans for unified rail networks and digital customs corridors. If successful, the model could evolve into a wider business-mobility pass covering work permits and freight drivers, further cementing the UAE’s role as the Gulf’s primary aviation and services hub.
Speaking to media, UAE Minister of Economy and Emirates Tourism Council Chair Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri called the project a “strategic milestone that transforms six destinations into a single connected itinerary.” The unified visa is expected to reduce administrative friction, lengthen average stays, and encourage multi-city business trips—an appealing prospect for conference organisers, hospitality groups and logistics providers that already use Dubai as a regional hub.
Industry analysts forecast a sharp uptick in intra-Gulf passenger flows once the scheme goes live, citing Europe’s 30 per cent tourist-night jump after Schengen’s introduction. Airlines such as Emirates and flydubai are likely to redeploy capacity to secondary Gulf cities, while corporate-travel managers may consolidate regional meetings into single itineraries, cutting costs and carbon footprints.
Implementation will roll out in phases to stress-test border IT systems and data-sharing protocols. During the pilot, authorities will monitor biometric gates, overstayer alerts and revenue-sharing mechanisms for visa fees. A full public launch date—and pricing—will follow a technical review by interior ministries. Businesses are advised to audit employee-mobility policies so they can capitalise on simplified travel once the pilot opens.
Beyond tourism, the visa signals deeper economic integration across the GCC’s US$2-trillion bloc, aligning with plans for unified rail networks and digital customs corridors. If successful, the model could evolve into a wider business-mobility pass covering work permits and freight drivers, further cementing the UAE’s role as the Gulf’s primary aviation and services hub.
