Gulf Cooperation Council has committed to revolutionizing the experience of traveling in the Gulf through a shared tourist visa program. The program is officially known as “GCC Grand Tours” and will make it possible to travel among six Gulf countries smoothly by residents and tourists alike, with navigating the region never easier. Continue below for everything you’d like to know about this new tourist visa in Dubai and other GCC.
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What is GCC Grand Tours Visa?
GCC Grand Tours visa is a Schengen-style travel visa that will provide freedom of movement within the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. While the GCC citizens already enjoy visa-free travel within the region, the new visa regime will be most useful to the millions of foreign nationals residing in the countries. The visa will be simpler, less expensive, and quicker for more than six individual visas needed per nation.
When Does It Launch?
The visa will enter trial by the conclusion of 2025, UAE Economy and Tourism Minister Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri revealed. UAE received the last four out of the five GCC members in Riyadh in June of 2025 to iron out finalities and how the system operates together with the security requirements of each state but short of the lead of the world’s technology. With success in the pilot program, there will be full implementation at a future date. The Dubai tourist visa information tells us that the tourists will be enjoying the system in a matter of months’ time.
How It Will Work?
The visitors will be registering to the single visa through an online platform, thus making it easy and accessible. The visa will be flexible in that the applicants will be having the choice of:
- Single-country access
- Six-country access
Validity of 30 to 90 days will be enough for extended regional stay. The building was approved at the close of 2023 after it received unanimous approval from the GCC ministers, an indication of growing regional interest in tourism development.
Current Travel Requirements
Requirements differ for UAE residents traveling within the GCC. The UAE nationals generally have visa-free entry into all except most member states, and foreign nationals residing in the UAE are treated differently by each state. The residents, for instance, need special visas to Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain has visas or need arrival. Oman needs to be on a list of approved jobs or with someone who is. Kuwait has recently simplified the procedure for eligible ID card holders who are GCC residents, issued prior to August 2025.
Conclusion
This merged visa regime will make intra-regional travel a matter of considerable ease, particularly for expatriates living in the GCC. Dubai tourist visa details 2025 states that Emirates ID card holders actually opt to utilize their residence visas for hassle-free travel across all six states. For the UAE itself, Emirates Tourism Council is to build integrated tourist circuits across all seven emirates, as supplemented by the Etihad Rail passenger train project for 2026.
The GCC Grand Tours visa is a significant step towards regional integration and expansion of tourism, with easier travel and wider economic opportunities in the Gulf.
