A brand new visa is slated to be launched at the end of 2024 to make it easier for tourists to travel across the Arabian Peninsula. With this new initiative called the "GCC Grand Tours Visa", there are high hopes for tourism to flourish in the region. 

What is the GCC Grand Tours Visa?

The GCC unified Visa is a Schengen-style scheme that will allow tourists and non-national residents to seamlessly travel across all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. With a single visa, tourists can explore the rich culture and history of these countries in the Gulf region. 

Benefits of the GCC Unified Tourist Visa

With the launch of the unified GCC tourist visa, tourists and non-national residents can enjoy several benefits. Here are the advantages in more detail:

Lower Costs

Previously, tourists would have to obtain separate visas for each GCC country. This would mean higher overall visa fees and any other costs involved with the visa applications, such as agency fees. With the GCC tourist visa, travelers can enjoy substantial savings as they only have to apply for a single visa to visit multiple countries. 

Time Savings

You can save time by applying for a GCC Grand Tours visa as you don't need to fill up lengthy visa applications for each country. It also means less time spent traveling to multiple embassies to submit your applications and waiting for visa approvals. 

More Flexibility

The GCC unified tourist visa enables travelers to visit all six countries, with each one presenting unique and diverse experiences. You will have more options to choose from among the six countries and can customize your travel experiences. With the introduction of the GCC tourist visa, travel agencies are likely to offer a myriad of tour packages featuring experiences from different combinations of the six countries. 

Be it strolling along the tranquil beaches of Oman, conquering sand dunes on an ATV in the Saudi Arabian deserts, or doing retail therapy in Dubai, the unified tourist visa for the GCC region allows you to craft your dream itinerary.

Greater Development

The GCC tourist visa initiative was spearheaded to boost tourism to the region, increase tourist spending, and strengthen local economies. This scheme is expected to enhance economic integration among the nations and lead to greater development in the hospitality and service sectors. Over time, you can benefit from more transport options between and within the GCC countries, a greater variety of accommodation facilities, and higher service quality standards. 

Required Documents 

When applying for the unified tourist visa for the GCC, you'll need to submit several important documents. With these documents, the authorities can verify your identity, understand your travel intentions, and assess your level of preparedness. 

Even though details of the required documents have not yet been released, here's a list of typical documents that you may be asked to submit: 

  • Passport: Ensure that your passport has a minimum validity of six months. 
  • Passport-sized photos: These photos need to be taken recently and meet the specifications outlined by the visa application guidelines. They should also be color photos against a white background and all your facial features should be clearly visible.
  • Travel itinerary: This is a detailed plan of the places you'll be visiting within the GCC, including flight bookings and other transport arrangements between the countries. 
  • Proof of accommodation: You may need to provide hotel booking confirmations. If you're staying with a friend or family member, you'll need a letter of invitation from them. 
  • Travel insurance: It should cover unexpected medical expenses and any other emergencies. 
  • Proof of financial ability: To prove you're able to sustain yourself financially during your time in the GCC countries, you may be asked to provide bank statements or other financial documents.
  • Return ticket: To demonstrate that you're going to return to your home country and are only visiting the GCC countries for tourism purposes, you'll likely need to provide evidence of a return ticket. 

Application Process

The exact application process has yet to be announced, but the application process may likely include these steps: 

  1. Prepare the required documents. Refer to the list in the previous section and gather all the necessary documents. 
  2. Submit the application. Hand in your application according to your preferred method, be it online or through authorized travel agents. 
  3. Pay the visa fee. The visa fee for the GCC tourist visa has not yet been revealed, but be prepared to pay for it via an online method. 
  4. Wait for the outcome. Check your email for updates regarding your application. The processing time has not been announced, but apply well in advance to avoid any delays in your trip. 

FAQs 

Explore answers to frequently asked questions about the GCC Grand Tours Visa:

Who can apply for the GCC visa?

The GCC visa will probably be open for application to non-nationals residing in any of the six countries. It may also be possible for most nationalities to apply. Keep a close watch on the latest visa news to know the confirmed details.  

How long will the GCC unified tourist visa be valid for? 

The exact validity period of the visa has yet to be announced, but it's expected that it may be valid for at least 30 days. This period may be as long as 90 days to allow tourists to explore the region extensively. 

Will I be allowed to get the GCC tourist visa on arrival?  

No, this would be quite unlikely. You would need to apply for it beforehand and get a confirmation that you've received the visa before travelling to the GCC countries. You can check the latest visa news to see if visa-on-arrival will be possible for your nationality in the future.