GCC Schengen-style tourist visa pushed back to 2026 as UAE, neighbours fine-tune security systems
The GCC Grand Tours Visa, which would let visitors roam the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain on a single permit, will now start in 2026 rather than 2025. Officials say more time is needed to mesh immigration IT systems and shared security databases. Companies should stick to current visa processes for now but plan for a major shift to a one-stop permit in about 18 months.
