Muscat – The long-awaited unified GCC tourist visa is moving closer to reality, with a pilot phase set to be launched by the fourth quarter of 2025, according to Abdulla bin Touq al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of Emirates Tourism Council.

Marri confirmed the development in remarks to Emirates News Agency (WAM), describing the initiative as a “strategic step towards deeper regional integration” that will enhance the Gulf’s collective appeal as a single, seamless tourism destination.

Known as the GCC Grand Tourist Visa, it will allow eligible foreign visitors to travel freely between all six member states – the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain – using a single visa.

Marri said the pilot phase will pave the way for full implementation at a later stage, adding that the initiative aligns with the shared Gulf vision to expand the tourism sector and boost its contribution to regional GDP.

“The unified Gulf tourist visa represents a strategic step towards enhancing tourism integration among GCC countries,” Marri said. “It will create a qualitative shift in the region’s tourism sector by showcasing the diverse attractions of each member state and promoting the Gulf as a single, world-class destination.”

The GCC Supreme Council approved the unified tourist visa in 2023 to facilitate movement of tourists and visitors across member states and further boost the Gulf’s position on the global tourism map.

The travel and tourism sector’s contribution to the Gulf region’s GDP was an estimated RO95bn (US$247.1bn) at the end of 2024, accounting for around 11.4% of the region’s total GDP.

Figures from the GCC Statistical Centre indicate that the sector has witnessed strong growth and recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, with its contribution rising by nearly 31.9% compared to 2019 levels. The sector’s share of the GCC’s GDP relative to the global total stood at 2.2% in 2024.

Looking ahead, the tourism sector in the Gulf is expected to maintain its upward trajectory. By 2034, its contribution is projected to rise to 13.3%, or approximately RO142.8bn (US$371.2bn), with an average annual growth rate of over 4.2% during the 2024–2034 period.

Intra-GCC tourism has also seen significant momentum. Between 2019 and 2023, the number of tourists travelling between GCC countries grew 41.5% annually, accounting for 26.5% of all international tourist arrivals to the region in 2023.