Trends
GCC’s Schengen-Style Unified Tourist Visa System To Launch Soon
Published
9 months agoon
Tourists planning to explore the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are in for a treat as the member states have greenlighted a unified tourist visa, similar to the Schengen visa system. Governments are currently integrating their systems and security aspects.
“There are multiple integrations … like security requirements for each country, making sure that everything is aligned for these developments. These implementations are taking time,” said Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
Saudi Arabia and UAE Could Be Bigger Beneficiaries
The Gulf states are also working on the visa fees framework. The unified tourist visa system was recently approved by the ministers of the regional countries, allowing visitors to conveniently explore the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.
UAE’s Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri said specific regulations and legislation for the visa will be developed, amid a targeted rollout between 2024 and 2025, depending on the readiness of each GCC country’s internal systems.
It is believed that Saudi Arabia and the UAE, especially Dubai, could be bigger beneficiaries of the new system as the emirate remains a global tourist destination and the Kingdom lures in a large number of religious tourists to Makkah and Madinah every year.
GCC Unified Visa To Transform The Travel Landscape
The Schengen-style system is expected to streamline travel logistics, offering a seamless experience for both tourists and residents. This, in turn, is largely anticipated to leave a positive impact on the economic and tourism sectors of the region.
Read More: Iran Lifts Visa Requirements To Combat The Phenomenon Of ‘Iranophobia’
As the six countries come together to give shape to the project, the region is poised to become an even more attractive destination for the international community. In fact, the new system is set to transform the travel landscape in the Gulf region in the coming years.
Aliza is a promising member of the Trends section at The Gulf Independent. She has a flair towards observing the latest food, movie, fashion, culture, business, technology and other other trending topics - delivering strongly factual and reliable news every day. Interest: Aliza holds a deep interest in bringing the audience the most recent information and incisive analysis on a variety of trending developments across the GCC. She believes in giving facts and creativity the front seat, producing articles that encourage deep conversations. Educate and Experience: Aliza entered the promising media industry in 2019, as she graduated from the prestigious King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia in Master of Media. Over the years, the journalist has produced innumerable thought-provoking and breaking stories, based on accuracy and integrity. Email id: [email protected]
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