The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations are set to introduce a unified Gulf tourist visa in the next two years, allowing travelers to explore all six Gulf countries seamlessly.
Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the Minister of Economy, announced this at the seventh GCC tourism ministers meeting in Oman. The rollout is targeted between 2024 and 2025, subject to each GCC country’s readiness. The UAE, anticipating an influx of international tourists, has designed a tourist route connecting all seven emirates.
This move aims to draw in international tourists to the Arabian Gulf region, aligning with the GCC 2030 tourism strategy. The tourism sector currently contributes 14 percent to the UAE’s GDP, with aspirations to raise it to 18 percent.
GCC countries also plan to increase inbound trips by 7 percent annually and boost the spending of inbound tourists by 8.0 percent annually.
