ATM 2023: New GCC unified visa for tourists, business people soon

  • Date: 04-May-2023
  • Source: Gulf News
  • Sector:Tourism
  • Country:UAE
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ATM 2023: New GCC unified visa for tourists, business people soon

Dubai: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to introduce a Schengen-style, unified visa for tourists and businessmen from 35 foreign and Arab countries, following discussions at the ongoing Arabian Travel Market at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The unified visa system aims to boost tourism and facilitate travel within the region. Bahrain's Tourism Minister, Fatima Al Sairafi, was quoted by regional media as saying that discussions are underway among GCC nations at the ministerial level on how to achieve such a visa. "We see that happening very soon because we see people flying from abroad to Europe usually spending their time in several countries rather than in one country. We really saw the value this can bring not to each country but all of us," Al Sairafi said. Once the system is finalised, nationals from the 35 countries would be able to visit the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman under a single visa. With the provision of a unified visa, GCC residents would also be able to travel visa-free, just like nationals, to all the countries under the Council. These comments were reportedly made by the spokespeople during a panel discussion on “The Future of Travel