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Six Middle Eastern countries have introduced a new visa system called the ‘Unified Tourism Visa’ or single visa. As a result, a single visa like the Schengen visa in Europe will allow visitors to travel to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The organization says that this visa has ushered in a new era in a very important economic sector.

A report by Abu Dhabi-based news outlet The National on Thursday (November 9) reported this.

The report said that after the 40th meeting of GCC ministers in Oman, the organization’s Secretary General Jassim Al Budawi announced the approval of the single visa system. It is said that this system will be effective across the six-country bloc between 2024 and 2025. And once it is launched, one visa will be available to travel to six GCC countries - the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.

It is learned that through this new initiative, the GCC wants to increase the number of tourists in these six Middle Eastern countries to 120 million by 2030. The Middle Eastern tourism sector is in a good position despite the bad situation of the global economy. Especially in the post-Corona period, income from this sector has increased.

Economic analysts say that this unified or single visa system of the GCC will be a 'game changer' for the Middle East.

In this regard, Jassim Al Budawi said, 'The Unified Gulf Tourist Visa is a project that will contribute to facilitating and facilitating the movement of residents and tourists between the six GCC countries. It will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the economy and tourism sectors.’

Earlier, UAE Finance Minister Abdullah bin Touq said last month that the unified visa is one of the key elements in achieving the GCC’s 2030 goals. Its aim is to accelerate the wheels of the economy through the travel sector.

-Collected 

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