Travel to GCC member countries is about to become more fluid and better connected. The Gulf Cooperation Council recently approved the first phase of a so-called «one-stop shopping» (“one-stop” travel system), kicked off by a pilot project between the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain later this year.
At the Gulf Gateway Investment Forum on November 2-3, 2025 in Bahrain, Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb confirmed the launch of the unified GCC visa for 2026.
This initiative marks a major step towards facilitated circulation within the following GCC member countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
The «Guichet Unique» model for Gulf citizens
Under the new model, citizens of the GCC member states - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - will have to complete passport and security checks at a single checkpoint. before departure.
These authorizations will then be recognized on arrival, eliminating the need for duplicate checks and considerably reducing waiting times. For example, a Bahraini travelling to Dubai would go through immigration and security procedures only in Bahrain, then arrive in the UAE without further checks. This system aims to rationalize air transport, to improve passenger flows and standardize border processing throughout the bloc.
A Unified Electronic Platform
The deployment of this system is supported by a unified electronic GCC platform which links travel violation records and border registers between member states. By connecting national databases, the system will enable real-time information exchange, helping authorities to verify traveler data seamlessly. Officials expect this digital integration to serve as the technical foundation for the one-stop-shop model.
GCC Unified Visa
Independently of the «one-stop-shop» system, but as part of the same simplification drive, the Gulf Cooperation Council is preparing to launch a "one-stop-shop". GCC Unified Visa.
Inspired by the European Union's Schengen system, This single visa will enable tourists and residents to travel freely throughout the six GCC member states. Originally planned for 2023, the launch is now scheduled for 2026, This new schedule is necessary to align security standards, biometric verification and border systems across all member countries. This new timetable is necessary to align the security standards, biometric verification and border systems of all member countries.
Impact on regional travel
The one-stop-shop system and the unified visa will make things easier for citizens of GCC member countries, and for future foreign travelers.
Expected benefits include :
- Simplified travel Travel between GCC countries will be faster, especially for frequent travelers, business commuters and nationals visiting family.
- Connected infrastructure Sharing digital systems lays the foundations for a more coherent regional travel framework.
- In-depth coordination : These measures demonstrate the growing convergence of Gulf policies on immigration, tourism and digital governance.
If the pilot project between the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain is successful, the system could be extended to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar, making travel in the Gulf «almost as easy as domestic flights».
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