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Oman to Give Visa-Free 10-Day Entry to 103 Countries to Boost Tourism

Oman last week said it would resume granting tourist visas to people visiting on trips arranged by hotels and travel companies. (AFP)
Oman last week said it would resume granting tourist visas to people visiting on trips arranged by hotels and travel companies. (AFP)
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Oman to Give Visa-Free 10-Day Entry to 103 Countries to Boost Tourism

Oman last week said it would resume granting tourist visas to people visiting on trips arranged by hotels and travel companies. (AFP)
Oman last week said it would resume granting tourist visas to people visiting on trips arranged by hotels and travel companies. (AFP)

Oman will exempt nationals of 103 counties from needing an entry visa for a stay of up to 10 days, police said on Wednesday, in a move to support tourism and shore up its struggling economy.

Visitors must have a confirmed hotel reservation, health insurance and a return ticket, Royal Oman Police said on its Twitter account.

“Nationals of 103 counties are exempted from entry visas into the Sultanate for a period of ten days,” it said.

Oman last week said it would resume granting tourist visas to people visiting on trips arranged by hotels and travel companies, after they were suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Gulf state resumed international flights on Oct. 1, but only citizens and people holding valid existing residency and work visas could enter.

Oman, rated sub-investment grade by all major credit rating agencies, faces a widening deficit and large debt maturities in coming few years. It has recently embarked on a new fiscal plan to wean itself off its dependence on oil revenues.

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GCC Renews Mandate of Jasem Albudaiwi as Secretary-General

Secretary General of GCC’s Council, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
Secretary General of GCC’s Council, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
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GCC Renews Mandate of Jasem Albudaiwi as Secretary-General

Secretary General of GCC’s Council, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
Secretary General of GCC’s Council, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.

The Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Sunday renewed the appointment of Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi as its Secretary-General for another three years, starting February 1, 2026.
“The decision is in appreciation of Albudaiwi’s great efforts and effective contribution to strengthening the Council's progress, wishing him success in his duties during the coming period,” said the final statement issued during the Council’s 45th session, held in Kuwait.
Albudaiwi officially assumed the role of Secretary General on February 1, 2023, succeeding Dr. Nayef Falah M. Al Hajraf.
Before his appointment in 2023, Albudaiwi was ambassador of Kuwait to the United States.
He was born on February 22, 1968, and earned a Diploma in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford in 1993. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, which he completed in 1991.
Throughout his career, he held several prominent positions, including Kuwait's Ambassador to the US from 2022 to 2023. He also served as non-resident Ambassador to Luxembourg (2017-2022), Head of Mission to the European Union (2017-2022), Head of Mission to NATO (2016-2022), Ambassador to Belgium (2016-2022), and Ambassador to South Korea (2013-2016).
Albudaiwi is the seventh Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which was established on May 25, 1981.
Kuwaiti Abdullah Bishara served as the Council’s Secretary-General from 1981 to 1993, followed by the UAE’s Fahim Al-Qasimi (1993-1996), Saudi Arabia’s Jamil Al-Hejailan (1996-2002), Qatar’s Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah (2002-2011), Bahrain’s Abdullatif Al-Zayani (2011-2020), and Kuwaiti Nayef Al-Hajraf (2020-2023).