Unified GCC Visa: What We Know and How It Stacks Up on Cost

October 29, 2025|Joshua

The GCC has approved a unified tourist visa for all six member states with a pilot launch planned for Q4 2025, promising simplified multi-country travel and potential cost savings compared to current separate visas, though final pricing and validity details are yet to be announced.

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The Gulf Cooperation Council is moving toward a single tourist permit covering all six member states. Formal approval was granted in November 2023, with officials signaling a pilot launch in the fourth quarter of 2025. Authorities have not yet published official pricing or final validity terms. Based on today’s individual eVisa and visa-on-arrival fees in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, a unified permit could simplify planning and reduce costs for multi-country trips, especially when Saudi Arabia is on the itinerary. Travelers should continue to rely on country-by-country visas until the pilot becomes operational and details are confirmed.

Background

The Unified GCC Visa is a flagship mobility initiative under the GCC’s tourism and economic integration agenda. Interior ministers approved the concept in Muscat in November 2023, and the GCC Supreme Council later endorsed it. The model is Schengen-like, intended to allow one visa for travel across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain. Throughout 2024 and 2025, GCC officials and national tourism leaders reiterated that the visa is a near-term priority within the broader GCC 2030 tourism strategy.

Current situation and timeline

Approval milestone: November 2023 at the GCC interior ministers’ meeting in Oman, followed by confirmation around the December 2023 leaders’ summit.
2025 status: The GCC Secretariat and UAE officials said the system is in its final technical phase, with a pilot expected in Q4 2025. As of October 28, 2025, no official fee or final validity has been published and the visa has not opened for public applications.
Implementation approach: Phased rollout beginning with a pilot, followed by full implementation once systems and procedures are validated.

Key facts and cost comparison

What is known today

Coverage: All six GCC states are expected to participate.
Use case: Short-stay tourism and visits. Employment and long-stay permissions are out of scope.
Application mode: Digital portal, details to be announced.
Price and validity: Not yet announced by GCC authorities.

Today’s single-country tourist visa fees and stay rules at a glance

Saudi Arabia tourist eVisa
- Fee: SAR 535 for the eVisa, SAR 480 for visa on arrival
- Validity and stay: 1-year multiple entry, up to 90 days per visit
- Passport validity: Generally 6 months from entry
Qatar visa options for tourists
- Visa on arrival or Hayya entry visas commonly carry a QAR 100 fee for eligible nationalities
- Passport validity: At least 3 months from arrival; other conditions like hotel booking may apply
Bahrain visit eVisa
- Illustrative fee points published by authorities include BD 29 for a 3‑month multiple entry visit eVisa; other fee structures show BD 5 application plus issuance components for certain categories; a 1‑year multiple-entry option carries higher issuance fees
- Typical passport validity: More than 6 months
United Arab Emirates tourist visa via GDRFA Dubai
- Fee: AED 200 for 30-day single entry, AED 300 for 60-day single entry, plus 5% VAT; additional service fees may apply depending on channel
- Overstay fines standardized at AED 50 per day nationally
Oman
- Many nationalities qualify for visa-free entry for up to 10 days under set conditions; others can apply for an eVisa via the Royal Oman Police portal
- Oman also maintains special joint visa arrangements at specific ports of entry; if issued inside Oman for certain cases, a 20 OMR fee is noted on official pages
Kuwait
- Kuwait operates an eVisa portal and visa-on-arrival scheme for eligible nationalities; for some travelers, visa on arrival is fee-exempt, while eVisa and VOA fees vary by nationality and category
- Example: U.S. citizens receive a visa on arrival with up to a 3‑month stay; GCC residents have expanded eligibility for eVisa and VOA under 2025 updates

Cost scenarios for multi-country itineraries

Because the Unified GCC Visa price is unannounced, the figures below are scenario-based to illustrate potential savings versus today’s separate fees. Currency conversions rounded to the nearest U.S. dollar for readability.

Example 1: Two-country trip, UAE + Saudi Arabia
- Today’s separate visas: UAE 30‑day single entry about AED 200 + VAT (~USD 57) and Saudi eVisa SAR 535 (~USD 143) equals roughly USD 200 total
- If a unified visa were priced near USD 120, savings might be modest for two countries; if higher, separate visas could remain competitive for short, two-stop trips
Example 2: Four-country trip, UAE + Saudi Arabia + Qatar + Bahrain
- Separate visas today: UAE ~USD 57, Saudi ~USD 143, Qatar ~USD 27, Bahrain ~USD 77 equals roughly USD 304 total
- A unified visa priced broadly in the low-to-mid hundreds could present meaningful savings and reduce administrative steps for this common four-stop loop
Example 3: Including Oman or Kuwait
- Depending on nationality, Oman may be visa-free for 10 days or require an eVisa, and Kuwait may provide VOA or eVisa at low or no fee for some nationalities. A unified visa could streamline mixed eligibility cases by replacing multiple checks with one permit if final rules allow

Traveler guidance and documentation

Until launch, continue to secure country-specific visas. Processing times are typically 1–3 days for several eVisas, with some approvals faster. Always verify your nationality’s eligibility, proof-of-accommodation requirements, and passport validity.
Passport validity baselines commonly seen today: Saudi 6 months, Bahrain 6 months, Qatar 3 months. Carriers may apply stricter checks.
Keep proof of onward or return travel, accommodation, and travel insurance where required.

Apply now

The Unified GCC Visa application portal has not opened to the public as of October 28, 2025. For current travel, apply through each country’s official portals listed in Sources.