Posted by: T. Sultan
ATM 2023:
The Gulf⠀Cooperation⠀Council⠀(GCC)⠀countries,⠀which⠀include⠀Bahrain,⠀Kuwait,⠀Oman,⠀Qatar,⠀Saudi⠀Arabia,⠀and the⠀United⠀Arab⠀Emirates,⠀have⠀announced⠀plans to⠀introduce⠀a unified⠀tourist⠀visa that⠀will⠀function⠀similar to⠀the⠀Schengen⠀visa in⠀Europe.
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.
The⠀GCC⠀unified⠀visa is⠀aimed at⠀increasing⠀tourism to⠀the region⠀and making⠀it easier⠀for⠀tourists⠀to visit⠀multiple⠀countries⠀within the⠀GCC. The⠀visa is⠀expected⠀to be⠀valid for⠀up to 90⠀days and⠀will be⠀available⠀to⠀visitors⠀from the⠀35⠀countries.
The⠀specific⠀details of⠀the visa,⠀such as⠀the⠀application⠀process,⠀fees, and⠀start⠀date, have⠀not yet⠀been⠀announced.⠀However,⠀the GCC⠀countries⠀have⠀indicated⠀that the⠀visa will⠀be⠀available⠀in the⠀near⠀future.
