Pilot Launch of Unified GCC Tourist Visa This Year: What It Means for Business and Investment Opportunities in Oman
Muscat: The pilot launch of the Unified GCC Tourist Visa is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025, according to statements from the UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism.
Abdulla bin Touq al Marri, who also serves as chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, described the Unified GCC Tourist Visa as a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening tourism integration among GCC member states. He emphasized that this move represents a significant qualitative advancement for the regional tourism sector.
While the pilot phase is expected in late 2025, full implementation of the visa may occur at a later date.
Data shared by the minister highlighted that the UAE welcomed 3.3 million GCC visitors in 2024, making up 11% of the country’s total hotel guests. Of these, 777,000 visitors were from Oman.
Meanwhile, the Sultanate of Oman received 3.89 million visitors by the end of December 2024, according to figures from the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI). The largest group of visitors to Oman came from the United Arab Emirates, totaling 1,185,880, followed by 623,623 visitors from India.
The Unified GCC Tourist Visa, also referred to as the GCC Grand Tours Visa, will facilitate travel for non-nationals residing in Gulf countries, allowing them to visit other GCC member states without obtaining separate visas for each country.
The visa application process will be fully online, designed to be user-friendly and efficient. Tourists will be able to apply for a visa to one or all six GCC countries within minutes, significantly reducing the usual time and inconvenience associated with acquiring multiple visas.
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The upcoming Unified GCC Tourist Visa, launching in late 2025, presents a significant growth opportunity for Oman’s tourism sector by facilitating seamless travel across GCC countries, potentially increasing visitor numbers and regional tourism integration. Businesses in hospitality, transport, and retail should strategically prepare for higher tourist inflows, while investors should consider expanding or innovating services tailored to a more interconnected Gulf tourism market. Smart entrepreneurs can leverage this streamlined visa process to develop cross-border tourism packages and digital platforms that capitalize on the expected surge in GCC travel demand.
