RIYADH: The long-awaited unified GCC tourist visa is expected to launch soon, according to the Gulf Cooperation Council’s secretary-general.
Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said the visa will allow international tourists to travel more easily between the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.
The permit is also known as the GCC Grand Tourist Visa. It is expected to let visitors enter all six GCC countries with one visa, similar to Europe’s Schengen visa system.
Albudaiwi made the remarks during the Security and History Dialogue 2026 in Riyadh on September 6.
He did not announce a launch date. Details about the visa fee, validity period and application process have also not been released.
GCC tourism ministers approved the proposal in October 2023. GCC interior ministers approved it the following month. In June 2025, UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said the visa had been approved and was awaiting implementation.
Albudaiwi said the visa is part of wider efforts to improve travel and strengthen economic integration across the GCC.
UAE-Bahrain travel project
Albudaiwi also referred to the UAE-Bahrain One-Point Air Travellers project, which is separate from the unified tourist visa.
The project allows GCC citizens to complete passport and travel procedures before departure. They can then arrive in the other country without repeating immigration checks.
The UAE and Bahrain launched the pilot phase in February 2026. It initially connects Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain International Airport.
The system uses electronic connectivity, biometric verification and e-gates to process passenger information before arrival.
The unified tourist visa is for foreign visitors travelling across GCC countries. The UAE-Bahrain project is designed to make air travel easier for GCC citizens.
