One Visa to Visit Six Gulf Countries Coming in 2025

The GCC Grand Tourist Visa is about to change travel across the Gulf forever. By the end of 2025, visitors will be able to explore six countries — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain — with just one visa. Inspired by Europe’s Schengen system, this unified visa aims to make the Gulf region one of the world’s most connected and attractive travel destinations.

According to UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the GCC unified visa represents a “strategic step toward deeper regional integration.” It will make the Gulf a single tourism hub, boosting economic ties and simplifying travel for millions of tourists every year.

What Is the GCC Grand Tourist Visa?

The GCC Grand Tourist Visa will function similarly to the Schengen visa, allowing travelers to move freely between six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries without applying for multiple entry permits. GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi confirmed that the system is in its final approval stage, with applications set to launch through a digital platform that will make the process fast and user-friendly. The pilot program is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025, followed by a full rollout across all member states.

GCC Grand Tourist Visa Impact on Tourism

The launch of the GCC Grand Tourist Visa comes at the perfect time. The UAE’s tourism industry has experienced record-breaking growth. By mid-September 2025, more than 39,000 commercial licenses had been issued in hospitality, aviation, transport, and digital tourism — a 275% jump since 2020. Minister Al Marri credited these numbers to the UAE’s progressive reforms and investment-friendly policies. The UAE’s Tourism Strategy 2031 aims to attract 40 million hotel guests annually and increase tourism’s GDP contribution to Dh450 billion by the end of the decade.

How the Unified Visa Benefits Travelers

Imagine shopping in Dubai, exploring Oman’s beaches, visiting Saudi Arabia’s heritage sites, or experiencing Qatar’s modern cityscape — all with a single visa. That’s exactly what the GCC Grand Tourist Visa promises. It will simplify travel across borders and encourage tourists to explore multiple destinations within one trip. The visa is also expected to boost regional mobility, benefiting business travelers, digital nomads, and leisure tourists alike.

GCC Visitors Already Driving UAE Tourism

Even before the visa launch, travelers from GCC nations make up a significant portion of the UAE’s tourism market. In 2024, 3.3 million visitors from neighboring Gulf countries visited the UAE, accounting for 11% of total hotel guests. Here’s the breakdown: Saudi Arabia led with 1.9 million visitors (58%), followed by Oman with 777,000 (24%), Kuwait with 381,000 (12%), Bahrain with 123,000 (4%), and Qatar with 93,000 (3%). Once the unified visa system is in place, these figures are expected to soar, making the GCC one of the world’s fastest-growing travel regions.

UAE Expands Its Tourism Vision

Alongside the unified visa, the UAE is launching multiple initiatives to strengthen its tourism industry. These include the sixth edition of the “World’s Coolest Winter” campaign to boost domestic travel, the UAE–Africa Tourism Investment Summit to attract global partnerships, and training programs for Emiratis in the hospitality sector. The government is also introducing incentive schemes for tourism startups and encouraging digital innovation in travel technology.

The Future of Gulf Travel

The GCC Grand Tourist Visa marks a new era for tourism in the Middle East. It will make cross-border travel seamless, boost regional cooperation, and position the Gulf as a global tourism powerhouse. With its pilot phase set for late 2025, travelers can soon experience six unique cultures, cuisines, and experiences with one travel document. The future of Gulf tourism is connected, modern, and more exciting than ever.