The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have approved a single tourist visa to promote simple mobility between the six member states, in a historic milestone aimed at boosting seamless travel throughout the Gulf region.
The declaration occurred during the 40th meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council's Interior Ministers, which was presided over by Sayyed Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, the Minister of Interior of Oman and the current session's President, in Muscat, the Omani capital. The event included participation from Interior Ministers from all GCC member states.
The ministers unanimously approved the single Gulf tourist visa initiative, marking a significant step forward in improving the ease of mobility for residents and visitors across the GCC states. The decision is expected to have a good economic and tourist impact on the region.
The Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, praised the unified GCC tourist visa initiative as a respectable achievement, adding to the Cooperation Council's lengthy list of accomplishments.
The current approval follows an earlier declaration by the UAE Minister of Economy, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, confirming the GCC tourism ministers' agreement on the implementation of the unified Gulf tourist visa.
This unique visa proposal, which is set to be implemented between 2024 and 2025 in compliance with the internal requirements of each GCC member, would allow holders to travel to all six GCC nations. The major goal of the visa is to promote and keep tourists inside the area, creating greater economic integration.
Furthermore, the ministers at the conference agreed to launch the first phase of an electronic linking system for traffic offenses throughout the GCC countries. This strategic effort intends to improve regional collaboration in dealing with traffic-related challenges.
Furthermore, the ministers agreed to create a comprehensive Gulf plan to tackle the plague of drugs, which has arisen as a significant societal concern throughout the Gulf area and beyond. This strategy approach is designed to address the many aspects of the drug problem, with the goal of promoting a safer and more secure environment for everybody.
