Now called GCC Grand Tours, this is your chance to explore six countries for the price of one.
If you’re dreaming of exploring the Gulf, we have some exciting news. The GCC countries are set to introduce a unified Gulf tourist visa. Earlier it was revealed that this visa will roll out by 2025, however, at the Arabian Travel Market, it was confirmed that this visa – now called the GCC Grand Tours – will come into action later this year.
Imagine having the power to visit Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE with a single visa. No more fussing over multiple visa applications, just one and you’re good to go. The GCC Grand Tours visa will allow you to explore not just one, but six stunning nations with a single visa — just like the European Schengen visa.
The man behind the plan, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE Minister of Economy, spilled the beans on this fantastic initiative. He shared this scheme at the meeting of GCC tourism ministers in Oman recently, where it received unanimous approval.
“The GCC Grand Tours, that we are working on and aiming to finish, will allow tourists to spend more than 30 days in the region,” Al Marri shared at ATM recently. “By the end of this year, the whole system will be in place.”
This initiative isn't just about making travel easier, it's also part of the GCC 2030 tourism strategy. The goal is to boost the tourism sector's contribution to the GDP by increasing inter-GCC travel and raising hotel occupancy rates. Ultimately, the GCC aims to become a top global destination for tourists from both near and far.
With more than 10,000 hotel establishments as of 2022, there's a lot of room for travellers to kick back and relax. The UAE, in particular, stands out with over 1,100 hotels, making it the second-largest in the GCC, just behind Saudi Arabia. And it doesn't stop there. More properties are popping up around the region left, right and centre to facilitate the surge in tourists once this unified Gulf visa is rolled out.
So buckle up and embark on an Arabian adventure like no other — the GCC is gearing up for a tourism revolution.
GO: Visit www.moec.gov.ae for more information.
