GCC countries eyeing improved tourism through Schengen-style ‘GCC Grand Tours’ visa

Starting at the end of 2024, people traveling for fun can visit six amazing countries in the Gulf region with only one visa! The brand new ‘GCC Grand Tours’ visa will make it very simple to go between the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Bahrain. This special visa is a big win for tourism in the region.

Easier Travel Planning

If someone wants to visit all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, they need to apply for six separate visas. This makes planning a multi-country trip quite hard. But everything becomes simple with the new ‘GCC Grand Tours visa. Travelers only need one visa to enter and travel across all six countries. This saves them a lot of time, money, and effort.

More Tourists, More Money  

Making it simpler to get travel papers will likely bring more visitors to the Gulf area. People can now easily plan longer holidays going to multiple countries without worrying about travel papers. This bigger flow of visitors will bring more money for hotels, airplanes, tour companies, restaurants, stores, and many other businesses. Money made from tourism will probably grow across all six nations.

A Diverse Experience  

The GCC countries have so much to offer visitors – from ultra-modern city skylines to ancient forts and cultural heritage. In the UAE, tourists can see Dubai’s iconic Burj Khalifa and manmade Palm islands. Saudi Arabia has holy sites like Mecca and Medina and stunning historical places. Bahrain is known for its unique island vibe and Formula 1 racing. Qatar will wow visitors with its avant-garde museums and 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums—Oman charms with natural beauty spots like the Jebel Akhdar mountains. And Kuwait impresses with its modern architecture and old souks.

Business Benefits Too

Besides leisure tourism, the new unified visa will also help business travelers. Corporate visitors often need to travel across multiple Gulf countries. Earlier they had to arrange several visas, wasting precious time and money. But now with one ‘GCC Grand Tours visa, they can zip across borders easily to attend meetings, and events and do trade. This will likely boost economic cooperation between companies across the GCC nations.