A brand-new visa system is on the way that could make exploring the Gulf a whole lot easier. It’s called GCC Grand Tours, and once it’s fully launched, it will allow travellers like you and I the ability to move freely between the 6 Gulf countries – Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and, of course, UAE – and it’s going to be just like the Schengen visa works in Europe! I have all the details you want to know, so keep reading to find out more.
Also read: UAE Visit Visa Offers Tourists The Ability To Extend Their Stay By 30-Days
What’s The Buzz Around This Visa?
It’s not just about convenience. This visa is being designed to boost regional tourism, encourage longer trips, and help each country attract more visitors. Right now, tourists need to apply for a separate visa every time they want to hop across the border. But with this one unified visa, that back-and-forth visa drama will be something of the past. It’s particularly exciting for the millions of non-citizen residents living in the GCC who often face travel restrictions between countries.
Who’s The Visa For?
While GCC citizens already enjoy visa-free travel within the region, this new system is mainly being created for residents and international tourists. It could allow longer stays, beyond the usual 30 days, and would make multi-country Gulf vacations much easier to plan. For example, an Indian resident living in the UAE could travel to Oman or Kuwait for a quick getaway without going through the current long process of visa applications for each country. When the plan rolls out the way officials hope, Emirates ID holders could soon use their residency as a kind of regional travel pass
But What’s The Hold-Up?
Although the visa was officially approved by GCC ministers in late 2023, it’s not available just yet. In March 2025, officials confirmed it’s still in the testing and research phase. One of the challenges? Making sure the security systems in all 6 countries are aligned. Oman, in particular, flagged some concerns about how the visa will be processed and monitored across borders. That’s why the full rollout is taking a little longer than expected.
Travel Today: What The Current Rules Look Like
While we wait for the new visa, here’s how travel between GCC countries currently works for UAE citizens vs residents:
- Saudi Arabia: Citizens can stay up to 90 days visa-free. Residents must apply for a visa.
- Bahrain: Citizens enter freely; residents need an eVisa or can get a visa on arrival.
- Oman: Citizens don’t need a visa. Residents need to qualify by profession or travel with someone who does.
- Kuwait: Citizens can enter with a GCC ID. Residents must apply for an eVisa or visa-on-arrival.
- Qatar: Offers visa-free access to nationals of over 100 countries, including many UAE residents. Conditions vary.
- UAE: Visitors from other GCC countries can stay for 30 days, extendable once using an eVisa.
As you can see, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. That’s exactly what the unified visa hopes to fix!
So, When Can You Pack Your Bags & Travel Around The GCC With Ease?
We don’t have a launch date yet, but all signs point to the GCC Grand Tours visa being worth the wait. It’s still in development, but once it launches, it could completely transform how we explore the Gulf.
Stay tuned to Gulf Buzz, and we’ll keep you updated as this unified visa journey progresses. And once the visa goes live, we’ll be the first ones to let you know how to apply, where to go, and how to make the most out of your Gulf adventures!
