Unified GCC Tourist Visa: Has It Launched Yet? (Status in November 2026)
The single Gulf tourist visa, also called the GCC Grand Tours Visa, has been approved since 2023 but has not launched. Here is the latest official word and what to do until it does.
The unified GCC tourist visa has not launched. It was approved by GCC interior ministers in November 2023, and the original target of late 2025 has passed. On 6 September 2026 the GCC Secretary General, Jasem Albudaiwi, said at a conference in Riyadh that it would launch "soon", but he gave no date, fee or application process. As of the newest reports we found (10 September 2026), nothing is open for applications. We last checked on 6 November 2026.
How the date has moved
- 2023: GCC tourism and interior ministers approve the idea.
- July 2025: The Observer reports GCC passport departments reviewing the draft agenda and technical findings. At that point it was expected "soon", with the online application portal not yet built.
- Q4 2025: A pilot phase was planned for the last quarter of 2025, which did not happen.
- November 2025: The Saudi tourism minister said the launch had moved to 2026, as Gulf News reported. Gulf News listed the delay causes as security and policy alignment, data sharing and linking national immigration systems.
- September 2026: The Secretary General says "soon", with no date.
What is expected, and what is not confirmed
Reports describe a single visa, applied for online, for foreign visitors to the six member states, limited to tourism and family visits. The Observer's 2025 report mentioned a validity of 30 to 90 days and the option to choose one country or all six. Law firm Fragomen noted that its impact on business travel is unclear.
Treat the following as unconfirmed: any price (figures between about USD 90 and 130 circulate in news and travel sites, but no government has confirmed them), the document list, and whether people who live in the Gulf are included. Some travel sites already advertise "applications" or specific launch dates. We found no official portal behind them, so be careful before paying any agent.
A separate project, do not confuse them
The UAE and Bahrain began a one-point air travel pilot in February 2026. It serves GCC citizens, not tourists on this visa, and the GCC chief mentioned it in the same speech.
What to do until it launches
You still apply country by country. For Oman, use the Royal Oman Police eVisa system and check the current tourist visa terms in our Oman visa guide. If you need help with a visa for Oman or a multi-country trip, see our visa services. We will update this page when a launch date is announced by the GCC or the Royal Oman Police.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for the unified GCC tourist visa now?
No. As of the latest reports we found (September 2026), there is no application portal, no launch date and no published fee.
Which countries will it cover?
The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, on one visa, similar in idea to the Schengen visa.
Will it replace my Oman eVisa?
Not until it exists. Until it launches you apply separately to each country under its own rules.
What is the UAE-Bahrain air travel pilot that started in February 2026?
That is a separate project for GCC citizens, not foreign visitors, and not the tourist visa.