The GCC Grand Tours Visa, officially approved in June 2025 and scheduled for launch by the end of the year, is a new initiative introduced by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which will allow non-GCC citizens to visit from one to all six GCC countries using a single visa. For tourists, this means unprecedented flexibility and freedom; for the six countries, the visa means increased trade and cultural exchanges, as well as greater regional cooperation. Although this measure has been presented primarily as an economic incentive and a means of making the Gulf more attractive to tourists, its geopolitical and strategic implications are significant. Like the Schengen Visa, the creation of a shared visa could be a step towards greater regional integration and a new form of international presence by the GCC.

To obtain the new GCC tourist visa, travellers will need a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of entry, a recent passport photo and a completed online application form. Supporting documents will also be required, including hotel reservations or invitation letters, travel health insurance, proof of financial availability (such as a bank statement) and a return or onward flight ticket. The application will be completed entirely online, with electronic payment and receipt of the visa by email, in digital or printable format. According to the Gulf authorities, the system will be faster, cheaper and simpler than the current procedure, which involves separate applications at the embassies of individual countries. Official costs and timing will be announced at the final launch.

The main driver of this initiative is undoubtedly tourism. In 2023 alone, over 68 million international visitors chose to visit the Gulf countries, confirming the region as one of the fastest growing tourist destinations globally. The tourism sector’s revenues have reached a new historical record, exceeding USD $110 billion and marking an increase of almost 43% compared to 2019, before the pandemic. According to analysts, the introduction of the unified tourist visa could give further impetus to this trend by making it easier and more convenient for travellers to discover different destinations in the Gulf within a single itinerary.

In recent years, the Gulf countries have also made significant investments to promote their national identities, trying to attract visitors from all over the world through sports events, culture and urban innovation. Examples are the Expo 2020 in Dubai, the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 and the Vision 2030 of Saudi Arabia. Internal competition between these economies has often fragmented the overall image of the region. As stated by the GCC General Secretary, Jassem Al Budaiwi, “the unified visa reflects the vision of our leaders to strengthen integration and cooperation”. The visa can therefore be seen as an attempt to overcome the logic of competition, instead favouring a functional cooperation, moving from six competing destinations to an integrated macro-destination.

From a political perspective, the visa represents a gesture of symbolic cohesion following years of intra-regional tension, notably the diplomatic crisis between Qatar and its neighbours between 2017 and 2021. Much like the Schengen Programme, which has played a key role in strengthening the European identity through freedom of movement, the GCC visa could become a fundamental tool for building a regional identity in an area often perceived as heterogeneous. In addition, the implementation of this project involves closer cooperation between security and border control authorities, which promotes regulatory and technological harmonisation between the various national systems. If successfully managed, this process could not only strengthen the region’s internal stability but also foster greater mutual trust among its members.

The soft power dimension should not be overlooked. A shared tourist visa, as we have seen, is not only a technical gesture but also strategic. The GCC wants to show the world a picture of an open, modern and interconnected region that can attract visitors despite geopolitical challenges and regional tensions. The goal goes beyond simply attracting tourists; it is about repositioning the Gulf as a reliable and innovative international player. Considering the context of growing global competition in the field of attention and skilled labour, this move can also be seen as a strategy for the Gulf to differentiate itself from other macro-regions, such as South-East Asia or North Africa. The European Union sees the introduction of the unified visa by the GCC as an opportunity to relaunch dialogue on international mobility. Creating a common framework between the Gulf countries could facilitate the negotiation of agreements to enable the entry of European students, entrepreneurs and professionals, thus strengthening economic and social ties. Moreover, the GCC’s significant investments in artificial intelligence, biometrics and digital frontier systems open the door to potential technology partnerships with the EU, especially in the areas of security and system interoperability. Finally, a more fluid entry system not only promotes the movement of people, but also stimulates cultural and academic exchange, promoting collaborations in the field of education, heritage development and vocational training. However, Europe is not the only actor paying attention to this initiative. The United States, China, South-East Asia and North Africa are also watching with interest. Washington, as a traditional security partner of the Gulf countries, could see the visa as an opportunity to strengthen economic and logistical cooperation, especially in sectors such as transport, infrastructure and sustainable tourism.

China is also watching the evolution of the new unified visa GCC closely, in line with its growing strategic projection in the region. Already actively present in the Gulf countries through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),Beijing launched an important diplomatic measure in June 2025: the extension of the visa-free regime to all six GCC countries. Citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia can now enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days, following the footsteps of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates whose citizens were already exempt from 2018. This move strengthens tourism, as well as economic and cultural exchanges. This move is not only diplomatic: it is part of a broader strategy to expand China’s presence in key sectors such as infrastructure, technology and transport. A more integrated Gulf area is an opportunity for China to consolidate its influence in an increasingly strategic global region. Finally, South-East Asia and North Africa, which are regions that compete with the Gulf to attract tourists, human capital and investment, could perceive the new GCC strategy as a challenge to their appeal, especially in a post-pandemic context characterized by a strong competition for global focus.

It should be stressed that, unlike the Schengen system, the GCC visa does not provide for freedom of movement of workers and residents between the six countries, nor does it imply full legal or institutional unification, thus remaining a measure focused on tourism and short-term residence. Nevertheless, if successfully implemented it will offer an alternative model of integration in the Arab world, representing a great step forward in transforming the Gulf into a unique and accessible hub for travellers from all over the world.

In conclusion, the GCC Grand Tours Visa is not just a bureaucratic innovation but a strategic act, expressing the will of the Gulf countries to engage globally through controlled openness, selective integration and economic diplomacy.