Gulf countries have postponed the launch of the joint GCC Grand Tours tourist visa until 2026. Learn about the reasons for the delay, the implications for travelers, and what to expect next

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has confirmed the postponement of the launch of the GCC Grand Tours single tourist visa, often compared to the Schengen model. Instead of the previously planned 2025, the new permit may not come into force before the end of 2026.

The GCC Grand Tours project provides for the opportunity to travel to six countries in the region – the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain – with a single visa. The initiative is considered key to the development of tourism, business trips and multi-country routes in the Persian Gulf.

Planning a trip to the Persian Gulf countries? It is important to consider visa requirements, entry rules, health insurance and the specifics of each country in the region. The travel guide will help you understand the requirements for documents, avoid common mistakes and save time when planning a trip.

Download the guide at the link.

Why is the launch of the GCC Grand Tours tourist visa being delayed?

According to GCC representatives, the main reason for the delay was technical and security difficulties associated with the integration of the immigration systems of the six sovereign states. During the testing of the server infrastructure, compatibility issues were identified with:

- Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems;

- Biometric data exchange;

- Security and watchlist synchronization.

As a result, member states decided to abandon the simultaneous launch in favor of phased pilots that will gradually eliminate technical gaps and reduce risks for border control.

What does this mean for tourists and businesses?

Until the single visa is operational, travelers and companies will have to continue to use separate national visas, e-permits or clearance-on-arrival schemes - depending on the rules of each GCC country.

For the corporate sector, particularly in the energy, construction, finance and IT sectors, this means:

- the need to maintain separate visa documentation for each country;

- duplication of health insurance requirements;

- additional administrative control over the entry and exit of employees.

It was previously expected that the introduction of GCC Grand Tours would reduce the cost of visa formalities by up to 30%, but these savings have been postponed for at least a year.

The region’s tourism ambitions remain unchanged

Despite the delay, the tourism departments of the Persian Gulf countries emphasize that a single visa in the future can increase intra-regional travel by about 20%. They plan to use the additional time to modernize border infrastructure, expand “smart gate” systems and digitalize visa processes.

Individual GCC states are simultaneously implementing their own technological solutions to simplify entry, which should pave the way for the full launch of a common visa scheme.

Recommendations for the transition period

While the GCC Grand Tours remains in the development stage, experts advise:

- Plan sufficient time windows between trips to different countries in the region;

- Carefully monitor the visa and insurance requirements of each country separately;

- Check the current rules on medical policies and additional entry conditions, which are not yet unified.

The single Gulf tourist visa remains one of the most anticipated projects in the region, but its full implementation takes more time than initially expected.

Traveling to the Gulf often involves multiple flights and different entry rules. The travel guide explains what documents may be required, how visa requirements are changing and what to look out for when crossing borders in the region.

Check out the current tour guide before your trip at the link!

Reminder! In 2026, many countries introduced new requirements for tourists: ETIAS in the EU, ETA in the UK, updated ESTA for the US and digital arrival cards. We have already told you what will change and how to prepare for travel in advance.

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