Through a more permissive visa system, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) intends to make travel easier for citizens of neighboring Gulf countries, notably Saudi Arabia. At a conference in Abu Dhabi, Economy Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri spoke about this topic, highlighting the need to promote tourism, make travel inside the GCC easier for residents, and foresee a pan-GCC visa system.
This approach would facilitate easy admission and exit between nations, influencing GCC tourism in the future. Minister Al Marri emphasized the developed tourism infrastructure in the UAE, which is prepared for the suggested modifications.
Six nations—the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar—make up the Gulf Cooperation Council, which has as its common objectives the prosperity and development of the area. In spite of occasional disagreements, they are investigating a single visa system akin to the Schengen framework in an effort to facilitate travel for visitors and promote the area.
Fatima Al Sairafi, Bahrain’s minister of tourism, alluded to a prospective unified visa system and cited successful collaborative promotions. This action might greatly improve tourism in the GCC and draw a wider variety of tourists.
