September 10, 2026 :The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is preparing to introduce a single tourist visa that would allow international travelers to visit six Gulf countries, similar to the Schengen visa system in Europe. The long-discussed “GCC Grand Tourist Visa” could be implemented soon, GCC Secretary-General Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi has said.
Albudaiwi provided an update on the progress of the unified visa during a special session of the “Security and History Dialogue 2026” held recently in Riyadh, according to Khaleej Times.
Once implemented, the visa would eliminate the need for international tourists to obtain separate visas when traveling between GCC member states.
The unified tourist visa would cover all six GCC countries: the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait. Travelers would therefore be able to visit the participating countries using a single visa.
However, no official launch date has yet been announced. Authorities have also not finalized details regarding the application process, visa fees or the validity period.
The interior ministries and relevant government authorities of the six countries are currently working together to advance the implementation of the project.
The new system is expected to make travel between Gulf countries easier for tourists while creating an opportunity to promote the region as a unified tourism destination.
Source: Khaleej Times