Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jassim Al Budaiwi confirmed that GCC nations are working towards introducing a unified Gulf visa for global travelers.
Al Budaiwi mentioned that during their recent summit in Doha, Gulf leaders greenlit a single tourist visa for the region.
They urged the General Secretariat, along with member states, especially the Ministry of Interior representatives, to fast-track its implementation.
This move aims to allow any international visitor to explore the Gulf countries with just one visa.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s special meeting in Riyadh, Al Budaiwi expressed hope that this step would boost regional tourism and save travelers time and money.
Recent data shows that the travel and tourism sector contributed 7.8% to the GDP of GCC countries in 2022. They aim to raise this to 10% in the future.
Al Budaiwi confirmed progress on the unified visa, with discussions in their final stages among Gulf countries. He stressed the need for careful consideration due to security and technical concerns.
Regarding trade agreements, Al Budaiwi mentioned completed deals with Pakistan and South Korea last year and a recent one with Türkiye.
Talks are ongoing for a trade agreement with the UK, with discussions planned in the next two weeks.
Talks with the EU have been on hold for over a decade, but both sides are interested in resuming discussions.
“A delegation from the GCC General Secretariat will visit to initiate preliminary discussions, not negotiations, with EU representatives,” said Al Budaiwi.
