GCC Unified Visa: What It Means for Business Travel

A unified visa system for the Gulf region is on the horizon—but it’s not here just yet. As of April 2025, the long-anticipated GCC Unified Tourist Visa, also known as the “GCC Grand Tours” visa, is still under development.

While originally expected to launch in late 2024 or early 2025, delays tied to security concerns and coordination among member states have pushed the timeline back. However, once implemented, the single-entry system could dramatically reshape how corporate travel is planned across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations.

For companies with regional operations or cross-border teams, the unified visa represents a major potential shift in mobility planning.

The unified visa explained

The GCC Unified Visa will function much like Europe’s Schengen visa, allowing eligible travellers to move between Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain on a single visa.

Once in place, this system will eliminate the need for separate applications and fees for each country—streamlining access to all six GCC member states for both leisure and business travel.

Ministers across the region have agreed in principle to the scheme. The goal is to position the Gulf as a seamless regional destination, encouraging longer stays, cross-border travel, and greater business collaboration.

For up-to-date details on visa systems and travel requirements in the UAE—one of the key participating countries—you can visit the UAE Government’s visa and Emirates ID information page.

Status update: where things stand in April 2025

Oman’s Minister of Heritage and Tourism, Salem Al Mahrouqi, confirmed that certain internal challenges remain unresolved—particularly around the treatment of specific nationalities and visa controls. Discussions are ongoing, but no firm launch date has been confirmed.

Until further notice, travellers must continue to apply for individual visas based on the entry requirements of each GCC country.

Travellers can monitor developments through platforms such as Visit Saudi and other official government portals.

What this means for business travel

For companies operating across the region, the unified visa would offer a more efficient way to deploy teams, attend meetings, and manage cross-border projects. However, until the system is active, business travel strategies should reflect the current landscape.

Planning multi-country itineraries still requires careful coordination with local visa regulations, especially for contractors, project managers, or executives travelling between Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar.

Organisations with regional travel needs should also stay closely informed. While the visa is primarily being positioned as a tourism initiative, its benefits for corporate mobility—particularly in the energy, infrastructure and logistics sectors—are likely to be significant.

Preparing for implementation

Although the rollout is delayed, it’s worth preparing for the unified visa’s eventual implementation. Corporate travel managers should consider:

• Reviewing mobility patterns and identifying teams that frequently move between GCC countries
• Streamlining internal approvals for multi-country trips
• Aligning travel risk policies to accommodate regional mobility
• Partnering with a travel provider that offers up-to-date entry requirement tracking

Once implemented, early adoption of the system could offer a competitive advantage—particularly for organisations managing high volumes of travel within the Gulf states.

Looking ahead

The unified GCC visa is part of a wider vision to deepen economic and logistical ties across the region. While delays are frustrating for some, the long-term opportunity remains clear: a more connected Gulf that supports easier, faster, and more efficient movement for business travellers.

For now, companies should monitor official channels for updates and plan based on current entry requirements. But with the unified visa firmly on the horizon, the future of business travel in the Gulf may soon look very different.