They have been working on it for over two years. The result will soon be visible. A common tourist visa for the six member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It is due to be launched before the end of the year. This electronic visa will allow travellers to travel for between 30 and 90 days. within a vast range of destinations including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The Secretary General of the GCC, Jassem Al-Budaiwiconfirmed that the visa would be launched "very soon".following a recent meeting with the interior ministries of the countries in the regional bloc.
Of course, it is already easy for French and European businessmen to travel to certain Gulf countries. The United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman offer a free visa on arrival for EU citizens. For Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, an e-visa is easily granted. The latest is then July 1, Kuwait launched its own e-visa system..
Nonetheless, this common visa for the six countries should facilitate MICE activity in the region. This is because it allows you to combine multi-destination trips without having to worry about entry formalities from one country to another. Being able to stay for up to 90 days will also enable business people to extend their stay in the region.. This will enable them to travel to several cities on business or attend several trade fairs or conferences if necessary.
Double the number of international visitors
According to the authorities, such a visa will help to boost a GCC-wide tourism strategy. The aim is to increase tourism's contribution to GDP by promoting inter-Gulf travel and improving hotel occupancy rates. The ultimate aim is to position the six GCC countries as a leading global tourist destination.
According to the latest figures from the GCC statistics office, the total number of international visitors in 2023 reached more than 68 million. That's 42.5% more than before the Covid crisis.
The Gulf States Joint Tourism Strategy 2023-2030 aims to annual growth of 7 % in the number of visitorswith the aim of achieving 128.7 million tourists a year by 2030.
