The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Al-Budaiwi, recently revealed that negotiations for a unified GCC tourist visa have made significant progress, as the region aims to enhance tourism and strengthen economic ties.
Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency, Al-Budaiwi stated that the unified Gulf tourist visa project, adopted during the 44th GCC summit in Doha, would contribute to promoting tourism across the member states.
He highlighted that the Gulf bloc is diligently working towards achieving pan-Gulf integration, with several accomplishments already achieved in the political, military, and economic spheres.
However, Al-Budaiwi acknowledged that further efforts are required for economic integration, citing joint projects in areas such as water security, media, and education.
Last month, UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri stated that the visa would allow travelers to visit Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait, and spend more than 30 days in the region.
Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Authority (SCTDA), expressed confidence that the new visa system would be ready by the end of this year.
“By the end of this year, the whole system will be in place. Many people and teams, led by the Ministry of Economy in the UAE and other ministries in other countries, are working on it tirelessly to make it happen in the best possible way, emphasizing digital transformation,” he said.
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