A Single Gulf Visa: Unifying Tourism and Addressing Challenges

In a step that embodies the spirit of Gulf unity and integration, opening the doors of the Gulf to the world with a single welcome, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are moving towards activating the Unified Tourist Visa project. This project will allow a single visitor to travel through six countries without the hassle of multiple applications. It's a project millions eagerly await, despite the organizational and security obstacles that still require consensual solutions.

After the GCC Supreme Council approved the Unified Tourist Visa in December 2023 during its 44th summit in Doha, the project is now approaching its practical birth. It will serve as a single passport to six Gulf countries united by geography and brought closer by shared dreams and ambitions.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya, the current chairman of the GCC Ministerial Council, revealed in statements to "Al-Jarida" that the project is in its final stages. He expressed hope that it would be implemented this year or next, confirming that most countries have already approved it. Some countries have raised observations, which the General Secretariat is currently working to resolve in a way that considers everyone's interests and achieves a unified implementation mechanism.

Al-Yahya stated that the executive mechanism for the visa would be adopted by the immigration departments in the GCC countries, ensuring it is unified, clear, and guarantees security and logistical integration.

Security and Logistical Dimensions: Political Consensus

In a related context, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi announced via the official GCC account on "X" (formerly Twitter), following the 39th meeting of the Directors-General of Passports in the GCC states held in Riyadh on July 2, that passport departments are diligently working on the final arrangements for the project in preparation for its soon launch.

Informed sources at the GCC General Secretariat clarified that the Unified Visa topped the meeting's discussions, particularly regarding the security observations raised by some countries. These included the specificity of banning certain nationalities and the need for a unified database to ensure that deported individuals or those with suspicions surrounding them do not enter any GCC country.

Discussions also covered the possibility of addressing these observations through a unified electronic application portal, enabling each country to provide its security opinion on any application before the visa is issued. This would enhance regional security and preserve each country's policy.

The sources indicated that the final drafting of the visa, its controls, and logistical regulations are still underway, making it difficult to activate it during the remainder of the current year. Expectations suggest its launch will likely be in 2025.

129 Million Visitors: A New Gulf Tourism Horizon

A report by "Travel and Tour World" predicted that the Unified Visa would help the Gulf region attract around 129 million visitors by 2030, truly making it a single gateway to the civilization of six countries and a multi-colored single culture. This is a qualitative step in the Gulf's journey towards global tourism leadership.

The Unified Tourist Visa is not just a transit document; it symbolizes Gulf unity in the face of the world. It affirms that the Gulf can transform its geographical borders into bridges of passage, not barriers, bridges that build tourism, economy, and integration, proving to the world that the Gulf is one home open to peace and prosperity.