GCC Secretary General Jassem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi announced that the visa will be launched soon and is aimed at making travel within the region easier for international tourists. It will be valid in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.

The initiative was approved back in autumn 2023, but its implementation has only begun now. The delay was reportedly caused by the need to harmonize the immigration rules and security systems of the six countries.

Analysts at International Investment note that the news about the unified visa comes at a difficult time for the Middle East. The escalation of the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran has had a negative impact on the region’s tourism sector, while multiple attempts to resolve the situation have failed to produce a lasting result.

Nevertheless, diplomatic efforts continue. A meeting between the foreign ministers of the GCC countries and their Iranian counterpart is scheduled to take place in Oman on September 14.