The much-anticipated Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries' 'GCC Grand Tours Visa,' a Schengen-model unified tourist visa, will soon be a reality. UAE's Ministry of Economy, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, recently said that the visa has been approved and is awaiting its rollout, after the Ministry of Interior and the other stakeholders look into it. Once launched, it will ease travel between all six member states, like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE, removing the need to apply for each destination separately. It is expected to be valid for at least three months, and it can also reduce long-term visa costs.

Other expected benefits once launched
1) Once launched, tour operators can offer multi-national tours, a unique travel experience.
2) Border checks can save a lot of time, as they are hassle-free and similar to the process of obtaining a Schengen visa. 
3) It can also simplify experiences like luxury shopping, desert safaris and beach explorations.
4) It can also create new jobs and boost the GDPs. 

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Who can apply?
The GCC Grand Tours Visa will allow foreign tourists to visit all six GCC countries on a single visa. According to reports, those who are currently eligible to get e-visas and visas on arrival, such as the citizens of the USA, UK, South Korea, Canada, Japan, and EU countries, are expected to be primarily eligible for the new visa. The visa will also be limited to leisure and tourism purposes alone. 

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