GCC to Roll Out Unified Tourist Visa Pilot in Q4 2026 to Boost Gulf Travel

Beginning in late 2026, the Gulf Cooperation Council will launch a pilot program for a single unified tourist visa for global travellers wishing to visit any one of its six member states (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, State of Kuwait, Omar, and Bahrain). With this project, all half-dozen of the Gulf Co-operation Council Member States will come together, similar to the Schengen Zone in Europe, to develop a comprehensive plan for hosting tourists throughout the entire GCC.

Why Now? Tourism Boom Fuels the Push

Tourism in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) has been on the rise, with about 100 million people visiting it each year by 2025. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s development of a variety of luxury destinations is driving a lot of this growth. However, due to the different visa requirements for each GCC country, tourists are discouraged from travelling to more than one country. The new unified visa will help create a seamless experience for tourists when travelling between GCC countries, which could lead to an increase in the number of visitors of about 20% to 30% based on the number of additional tourists that will visit if they had the ability to travel freely throughout the GCC.

How It Works: Pilot Details

Starting late 2026, the six-month pilot targets key markets like Europe, Asia, and India. Expect digital applications via a shared platform, with fees around $100-150. Validity spans 90 days, multiple entries allowed. Full rollout could follow by 2028 if successful.

Economic Wins and Challenges Ahead

This could inject billions into the $150B Gulf tourism economy, creating jobs and boosting off-season travel. Challenges include aligning security protocols and marketing globally. Early adopters praise the ease—imagine Dubai beaches to Oman’s mountains in one trip. for more news updates, visit our Gulf Independent News page.