UAE: New ‘Schengen-style’ visa planned for GCC countries

  • Date: 03-May-2023
  • Source: Zawya
  • Sector:Tourism
  • Country:UAE
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UAE: New ‘Schengen-style’ visa planned for GCC countries

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are looking to launch a ‘Schengen-style” visa for tourists — which is expected to boost revenues and footfall for all countries in the region.

Speaking during the Arabian Travel Market, Fatima Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism in Bahrain, said discussions have been taking place at the ministerial level among GCC nations on how to achieve a unified single 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 during a panel discussion on “The Future of Travel for the GCC”, held at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.

She pointed out that Bahrain has benefited from co-promoting the country along with the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.

“We targeted 8.3 million tourists for 2022 but achieved 9.9 million visitors because we co-promoted Bahrain along with the UAE and other GCC markets. It resulted in an increased number of tourists. When we co-promoted at a unified destination through 100-plus tour operators, the footfall also increased and the diversity of nationalities of tourists also