Grand Tours Visa: Phase one of the GCC Visa will begin in December
It’s finally here
First announced last year at the 40th meeting of the Interior Ministers of the GCC, the GCC Grand Tours Visa, often likened to the Schengen visa, finally has a set launch time. We can’t wait for the GCC Grand Tours Visa 2025 launch.
The pilot phase will be rolled out in just the UAE and Bahrain to start, and if all goes well, it will then be expanded across all six countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
GCC Secretary General Jasem Al Budaiwi announced the initiative during a meeting of interior ministers held in Kuwait City on Wednesday, confirming that the pilot phase would launch in December, according to The National.
What is the GCC Grand Tours Visa?
The new visa will give visitors access to all six GCC states, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the UAE, and, of course, Saudi Arabia, with a single visa, making travel within the region even easier and helping boost tourism within the areas too. The GCC Unified Tourist Visa, better known as the “GCC Grand Tours” Visa, is expected to be an easy and efficient way for tourists to visit multiple Gulf countries using a single visa.
The new launch is also expected to be far more cost-effective, as tourists can save money by choosing to apply for the unified visa option to travel across all six nations, rather than needing to pay for multiple different visas.
What documents will be required?
- A valid passport
- A completed application form
- Passport-sized photographs
Additional documents, including the following, may be required, such as:
- Proof of accommodation
- Travel itinerary
- Travel insurance
- Return or onward ticket
- Proof of financial means
How to apply for the GCC Grand Tours Visa
Once the system is live, tourists will apply through an online portal before arriving in the country. Applicants will select whether they are applying for entry to a single country or multiple GCC states. Once travellers complete the form, upload the documents, and pay the visa fee, the visa will be issued electronically via email.
