ATM 2023: New ‘Schengen-style’ GCC unified visa for vacationers, enterprise folks quickly

“We see that occuring very quickly as a result of we see folks flying from overseas to Europe often spending their time in a number of international locations slightly than in a single nation. We actually noticed the worth this may deliver to not every nation however all of us,” Al Sairafi stated.

As soon as the system is finalised, nationals from the 35 international locations would have the ability to go to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman underneath a single visa. With the supply of a unified visa, GCC residents would additionally have the ability to journey visa-free, identical to nationals, to all of the international locations underneath the Council.

These feedback had been reportedly made by the spokespeople throughout a panel dialogue on “The Way forward for Journey for the GCC”.

Samira Al Gharib, assistant undersecretary for tourism on the Kuwaiti Ministry of Commerce, acknowledged that plans for a “unified tourism visa” are being thought-about by GCC Inside ministries, which will likely be chargeable for visa-related formalities.

“The unified visa targets frequent guests to the GCC,” she stated. Nevertheless, Al-Gharib denied that the brand new visa system can be applied by subsequent 12 months, citing many hurdles to be overcome forward of the brand new proposal.

Al Gharib confirmed that the brand new visa system would generate important revenues inside the regional tourism sector, with visas largely searched for leisure and never work-related functions.