A new tourist visa will soon be launched to facilitate travel between countries in the Arabian Peninsula. It’s called the GCC Visa, also known as the Unified Tourist Visa.
This visa will allow tourists to visit six countries in the Arabian Peninsula, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, with a single permit. The main goal of this visa is to simplify travel within the region and make it easier for tourists to explore multiple countries in one trip. This visa is an adaptation of the Schengen visa valid in Europe.
These six countries are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Currently, travelers are required to apply for separate visas for each country. With this new system, non-GCC citizens can choose to apply for a single-country visa or a multi-country option. The visa will reportedly be accessed through a single portal, also reducing the administrative burden for visitors.
To qualify for a visa, the purpose of the visit must be tourism, a temporary stay, or visiting family and friends. This visa does not permit work or long-term stays. The GCC has not yet confirmed the validity period of this visa, but it is expected to range from 30 to 90 days. Visa fees have also not been announced, but authorities say this new multi-country option will be a more cost-effective alternative to the six separate visas currently required for those wishing to visit all GCC member states.
The GCC Visa is expected to launch in late 2025 or early 2026. Applicants can apply online by uploading various documents, such as a copy of a valid passport, photographs, proof of accommodation, travel insurance, proof of sufficient funds to cover the trip, and a return or onward ticket to a confirmed destination outside the GCC. Once approved, the visa will be issued via email—but travelers are also required to carry a printed copy of the visa with them during their trip.
