Residents in the Gulf can soon expect a GCC visa which will make travel all across the region quick and simple.
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Residents can expect a GCC visa soon
UAE’s Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touk said last week that a single visa is being planned for residents of all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. In a statement, he said, “We will implement this decision as early as possible.”
If the single visa is introduced, residents will be able to travel in all the GCC countries. GCC countries include UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
The visa will simplify travel within the region and boost tourism all across the Gulf states. According to Abdulla bin Touq, “The UAE has built an infrastructure to really accommodate all these types of tourism over the years.”
This new idea comes amidst UAE’s hopes to further invest heavily to expand its tourism sector. In May, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced that tourist spending in the country rose by 70% to Dh121 billion ($33 billion) last year, which was the highest in the region.
Mr. bin Touq emphasized that the infrastructure of UAE’s tourism and hospitality sector has been planned for four decades, and isn’t something that was achieved overnight. “It’s always been in organic growth,” he said.
The launch date of such a visa remains unclear, but you can stay tuned to ITP Live for all the latest updates.
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