GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi announced in Riyadh on 6 September 2026 that the long-anticipated Unified Gulf Tourist Visa, also known as the GCC Grand Tourist Visa, will soon be launched.
- Spoke at the Security and History Dialogue conference.
- Passport authorities across the six member states are in final stages of integrating technical and security systems.
- Allows foreign passport holders to travel between the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman using a single approval.
The permit is designed to allow foreign passport holders to travel between the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman using a single approval, replacing the need for separate applications for each country. Officials clarified that this initiative is strictly a tourist permit and is not a substitute for employment visas, residency permits, or specific national sponsorship requirements.
The visa, which is expected to function similarly to Europe's Schengen visa, will be processed through an online portal featuring a single application form, electronic payment, and email-based delivery. The project has already received approval from GCC interior and tourism ministers, following an initial agreement reached in Muscat in November 2023. Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb previously identified 2026 as the target launch year.
While trade reports have suggested potential costs between USD 100 and USD 150 with validity periods of 30 to 90 days, government authorities—including the ICP, GDRFA, Saudi eVisa, MOI Kuwait, LMRA Bahrain, MOI Qatar, and ROP Oman—have not yet released an official fee schedule, eligibility criteria, or a specific launch date as of 15 September 2026. Experts advise residents not to cancel existing travel plans and to maintain their current residency documents, as the tourist visa does not alter local employment, family sponsorship, or overstay regulations, such as the UAE's AED 50 daily overstay fine. The Riyadh remarks were widely reported by outlets including Khaleej Times, Arabian Business, Saudi Gazette, The Peninsula Qatar, and Times Kuwait between 6 and 12 September 2026.
