Traveling between gulf countries will soon be easier than ever thanks to a new tourist visa. The scheme was announced by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in October of last year.
The visa will be called “GCC Grand Tours” and will allow for seamless travel between the 6 participating countries:
- Oman
- United Arab Emirates
- Saudi Arabia
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Qatar
Advantages of the GCC Grand Tours Visa
The GCC Grand Tours is similar in concept to the European Schengen visa. Tourists will only need to apply for one visa and present it with their passport when crossing borders.
Easier travel between destinations
The visa allows tourists to quickly hop between famous destinations. Traveling between Dubai, Jeddah and Muscat will soon be as easy as traveling between Amsterdam, Paris and Rome.
You’ll no longer need to worry about applying for multiple visas when planning your next trip through this region of the Middle East.
Cost-saving benefits for travelers
It is expected that the new GCC Grand Tours visa will be cheaper than buying individual visas for each country. For example, tourists have to pay $128 for a Saudi Arabian visa.
However, if you’re planning to visit just 2 or 3 countries on the list, applying for individual tourist visas may still be more cost-effective.
Extended period of stay
The extended duration of the visa is also an advantage for travelers. The existing visas for Oman and Bahrain are valid for 2 weeks. It’s expected that the GCC Grand Tours visa will allow for visits of more than 30 days.
Expected Launch Date of the New Visa
First announced in October 2023, current GCC president Sayyed Hammoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi confirmed that the GCC Grand Tours Visa had been unanimously approved by the council in November of the same year.
However, no official launch date for the visa has been announced. According to GCC officials, the visa should be available by the end of 2024 or early 2025.
Growth of Tourism in the Gulf Countries
It’s hoped that GCC Grand Tours visa can boost the number of tourists visiting the region. This is part of the council’s plan to diversify the oil-dependent economies of these countries, and increase economic activity in other sectors.
Many Gulf countries have been making strides in developing their tourism industries over the past few years. Oman has recently launched it’s 2040 tourism plan, which is set to inject $31 billion into the industry.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, tourism now makes up approximately 7% of Oman’s GDP. It is projected that over 206,000 people will be working in the sector by the end of 2024.
Saudi Arabia saw a 390% increase in demand for tourism activity licenses in 2023, and it’s estimated that tourism now accounts for 4% of the country’s GDP. The country recently celebrated the milestone of having welcomed 100 million tourists.
Increased interest and infrastructure
Major events such as the World Cup held in Qatar in 2022 and the opening of Saudi Arabia to tourists in 2019 have also contributed to the increase in tourists interested in the region.
This has been accompanied by an increase in infrastructure and touristic activities offered by local businesses, such as swimming with whale sharks in Oman, or the Katara Cultural Village in Qatar.
Large tour operators have already started working on package holidays that will take travelers across multiple countries in the region.
