A unified Gulf Corporation Council (UCC) tourist visa is a game-changing initiative that will allow travellers to visit all six Gulf countries. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Economy, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, released additional details about this visa scheme at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM). The unified GCC visa is expected to increase tourism and streamline travel in the region, with a projection to attract 129 million visitors by 2030. It’s also aimed to boost the economy and establish the Middle East as a premier tourist destination. If you’re a resident of one of the Gulf countries or are planning to explore the region, read on to learn more about this visa.
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What is a Unified GCC tourist visa?
The Unified Gulf Corporation Council (UCC) tourist visa, also known as the “GCC Grand Tours”, will allow residents in the GCC countries to move freely in the region. The GCC countries include Saudi, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait. Even though citizens of GCC countries can enjoy visa-free travel within the region, this is currently not possible for residents who have to obtain separate tourist visas to visit each GCC member state. The Unified GCC tourist visa will enable millions of non-nationals residing in the six countries to travel on one multiple-entry tourist visa.
If you’re not a GCC resident but want to explore the region, you can also benefit from this visa. By applying for the Unified GCC visa, you can travel to any of the six countries without additional paperwork. This new visa initiative is similar to the Schengen visa and seeks to enhance tourism and make travel across the region more convenient.
When can I get a Unified GCC tourist visa?
The launch date of the GCC visit visa has yet to be announced, but the visa is expected to be rolled out by the end of 2024. The concept of the unified GCC visa has been in discussion since October 2023 and new details of the visa were shared at the ATM in May this year.
How long can I stay in the GCC countries?
Currently, tourists are only allowed to stay for a maximum of 30 days in many of these six countries. Thereafter, they need to return to their home country and reapply for another tourist visa if they wish to extend their stay. With the unified GCC visa, there’s a possibility for foreign nationals to stay for a longer period, such as for 90 days. More details regarding the maximum duration of stay will be announced closer to the launch date of the GCC tourist visa.
How much will the GCC tourist visa cost?
The visa fees for the unified GCC visa have not been announced. We will update you on the relevant fees as soon as the authorities provide details.
How to apply for the Unified GCC tourist visa?
Details on how to apply for the visa and the required documents have not been released as of yet. While they’re still being finalised by the authorities, ensure that your passport has a minimum validity of six months.
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