The long-anticipated GCC integrated tourist visa has actually been approved and will be rolled out in the near future, according to Abdulla bucket Touq Al Marri, UAE’s Minister of Economy. The shift is seen as a vital step that could alter the region’s go landscape, enabling smooth hospitality across all six associate states of the Gulf Cooperation Council ( GCC): the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait. Confirming the development, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates ( UAE), said that the unified visa has already been approved and is currently awaiting deployment. Speaking on the sidelines of the UAE Hospitality Summer Camp press conference held on Monday, June 16, 2025, Al Marri told Khaleej Times :“The single ( GCC ) tourist visa has been approved and waiting now to be implemented, hopefully, soon. Nowadays, it is with the Ministry of Interior and the relevant partners and they should appear into it. ” The immigration, often referred to as the “GCC Grand Tours Visa”, is designed to work similarly to the Schengen card in Europe, which allows tourists to travel freely across participating nations with a single force. This integrated report may improve journey by eliminating the need to apply for individual visas to each country in the Gulf bloc, despite the countries being well-connected by air and road.
Business Reactions: A Boost to ‘ Bleisure’ and Regional GDP
Leaders across the travel and hospitality sectors have welcomed the acceptance of the integrated GCC holiday immigration, calling it a “game-changer ” for the region’s hospitality industry and broader economy. Industry executives believe the new visa will significantly enhance tourism flows between the six Gulf nations by making cross-border travel more accessible and convenient for international visitors. A major expected outcome is the rise of “bleisure” travel, a blend of business and leisure, as visitors are more likely to extend their stays to explore neighbouring destinations while on work trips. This, in turn, could lead to longer average trip durations and a more even distribution of tourist spending across the region. The unified visa is also seen as a catalyst for economic growth beyond tourism alone. Industry leaders anticipate that easier cross-border access will stimulate new job creation, attract investment in hospitality and infrastructure, and encourage greater regional collaboration in promoting the Gulf as a single, cohesive destination.
Record Tourism Numbers: GCC Poised for a Tourism Boom
The visa rollout comes on the back of strong post-pandemic recovery figures in the Gulf’s travel sector. According to data released by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf, the region recorded:
- 68. 1 million visitors in 2023
- $ 110. 4 billion in tourism revenue – a record high
- 42. 8 % increase in tourist arrivals compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019
In the UAE specifically, tourism continues to drive national economic growth. As per the World Travel and Tourism Council ( WTTC ):
- The sector contributed to 833,000 jobs in 2024
- Employment is projected to reach 1 million by 2030
- This will exceed the WTTC’s own earlier projection of 928,000 jobs by 2034
- One in every 9 UAE residents is expected to be employed in the travel and tourism industry by 2030
Dubai Leading the Surge
Dubai, already a global tourism magnet, is setting the pace. According to figures from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, the emirate welcomed:
- 7. 15 million tourists in the first four months of 2025
- This marks a 7 % increase compared to the same period in 2024
Such numbers reinforce Dubai’s position as a central hub in the GCC’s broader tourism ecosystem. With the unified visa coming into effect, other cities and countries in the region stand to benefit from Dubai’s traffic through extended itineraries and regional travel circuits.
What’s Next?
While an exact rollout date has not yet been publicly confirmed, the unified visa has been officially approved and is now under review by the Ministry of Interior and other relevant authorities in the UAE and across the GCC. Multiple Gulf ministers and senior officials have indicated in recent months that the unified visa will be introduced “soon. ” Once implemented, the visa will enable:
- Multi-entry access across all six GCC countries
- Simplified paperwork for tourists
- Greater integration of the region’s tourism offerings under a unified travel policy
This initiative not only aligns with long-term regional integration goals but also aims to make the GCC a more attractive destination for international tourists by offering a smoother and more expansive travel experience.
