Okay, picture this: You’ve prayed in Saudi hopped over to Oman for a serene beachside escape, relished the sizzling kebabs in Bahrain, and sipped on fresh mint tea in Qatar. All with ONE VISA! Yep, a unified GCC tourist visa is coming in 2025, and it’s about to make hopping between countries in the Gulf as easy as opening a door.
Let’s dive into this juicy travel update that’s about to open up a whole new world for you, without the usual visa hoops and airport queues!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What is the GCC Unified Tourist Visa?
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Imagine a visa that lets you roam freely between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, namely Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain. The GCC Grand Tourist Visa is a strategic step toward enhancing the appeal of the UAE and making multiple applications unnecessary.
The Schengen-style GCC Tourist Visa is expected to boost travel to the GCC countries, mainly the UAE and Saudi Arabia. There’s also expected to be a boom in business and investments in the UAE as per this GCC Tourist Visa news!
Imagine booking cheap flights to Saudi Arabia gives you access to multiple countries? We expect a boom in travel to the UAE; what do you think?
You can also extend your vacation to Dubai by applying for your Dubai visa online to get an E-visa in 24 hours!
When Will the GCC Tourist Visa Become Available?
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As per the UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, the visa will become available in the fourth quarter of 2025. No exact dates have been announced, so keep your eyes peeled on the weekly visa news to know more.
Can’t wait? Apply for your UAE Visa online to kickstart the exploration before the GCC Visa becomes available.
GCC Tourist Visa Price: What’s It Going to Cost?
Now, the burning question: what’s the unified GCC tourist visa price tag? While the exact fee hasn’t been fully confirmed yet, you can expect it to range between USD 90 and USD 130 (INR 7,995 and INR 11,548). Why not reserve the best hotels in Saudi Arabia in advance?
Explore: New Umrah Visa Rules 2025: Hidden Changes That Might Get You Rejected.
Visa Validity & Processing Time
Once the visa is released, tourists can access it via online platforms. You might get access to individual countries or all six countries. The validity is expected to range between 30 to 90 days per country.
Processing time for the visa will range from three days to a week’s wait.
Who Is Eligible for a GCC Unified Visa?
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Before you start searching for the GCC Tourist Visa requirements, do you know if you can apply for the visa? Tourists applying for the visa must have:
- Valid residency permits from the six GCC countries.
- Passports have a six-month validity post-application date.
- Applicants who are not on a watch list or have an entry ban on any of the countries.
The new GCC Tourist visa makes the Emirates ID much more powerful for tourists!
Discover: UAE Launches Four New Visit Visa Categories – Are You Eligible?
Giving a Boost to the Already Powerful Tourism Industry
Since inter-country travel between GCC countries is currently booming, the introduction of the tourist visa is only expected to double the numbers! As of 2024 statistics, about 3.3 million GCC country visitors also explored the UAE. Even without the efficient Gulf travel, these are the breakdown by origin country:
| Country Name | Number of Visitors | Percentage from Total |
| Saudi Arabia | 1.9 million | 58% |
| Oman | 777,000 | 24% |
| Kuwait | 381,000 | 12% |
| Bahrain | 123,000 | 4% |
| Qatar | 93,000 | 3% |
Are you all ready to explore? Secure all-inclusive Saudi Arabia tour packages before the Saudi GCC Tourist Visa is introduced and the prices skyrocket.
Summing Up:
The new GCC Tourist Visa is a Schengen-like visa for the Gulf countries, allowing unstoppable movement between the GCC Countries. It will be released in the 2025’s 4th quarte, allowing travellers to enjoy free movement between the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar. The fee is expected to range between INR 7,995 and INR 11,548. The validity is expected to range between 30 to 90 days per country.
FAQs: GCC Tourist Visa
What is GCC Tourist Visa?
The GCC Tourist Visa is a Gulf Visa that allows free movement between six GCC countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.
What are the 7 GCC Countries?
The GCC countries include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE since May 1981.
Who is eligible for a GCC Unified Visa?
Applicants who have a valid residency permit, a passport expiring 6 months after GCC application date, and no bans or misconduct records can apply for the GCC unified visa.
How much does a GCC visa cost?
The GCC visa is expected to cost around USD 90 to USD 130 (INR 7,995 to INR 11, 548).
Can Indians apply for a GCC visa?
Yes, the GCC visa is for non-GCC nationals, hence Indians can apply for the same.
What is the difference between a GCC and Schengen Visa?
A Schengen Visa allows entry to European countries, while a GCC visa allows entry to six GCC countries.
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