Saudi Arabia set to reap major gains from GCC Unified Visa
Experts emphasize that the unified visa will accelerate Saudi Arabia’s tourism and business diversification, helping the Kingdom move closer to its target of 150 million visitors annually by 2030. Infrastructure investments are critical to realizing the visa’s potential. The visa is expected to generate broad economic benefits beyond tourism. Hospitality, logistics, transportation, and entertainment sectors are likely to see increased demand. Integrated travel platforms covering bookings, visas, and itineraries are poised to spur innovation and support experience-based tourism, including cultural, wellness, and adventure packages.
Two years after its initial approval, the Gulf Cooperation Council’s long-awaited unified visa is entering its final approval phase, with Saudi Arabia expected to emerge as the primary beneficiary. The new permit will allow seamless travel across all six GCC states, promising to transform regional tourism and business mobility.
The unified visa, first proposed in 2023 and officially approved last year, enables travelers to move freely between Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE under a single permit. GCC Secretary General Jassem Al-Budaiwi confirmed earlier this month that the initiative is in its final stages, bringing the region closer to a Schengen-style travel system.
For Saudi Arabia, the timing aligns perfectly with Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and expand the tourism sector. Mega-projects such as Neom, the Red Sea resorts, and AlUla’s cultural sites are expected to attract more visitors under the new unified visa framework.
The Kingdom also holds a strong advantage in religious tourism, as home to Islam’s holiest cities of Makkah and Madinah. The unified visa could encourage pilgrims to extend their stays, exploring cultural, leisure, and heritage sites across the country. Experts note that multi-country itineraries combining stops in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Qatar will enhance the Gulf’s appeal as a regional tourism hub.
Major airports in Riyadh and Jeddah are expected to serve as transit hubs, offering short-stay cultural excursions to sites such as Diriyah and Qiddiya. Enhanced regional connectivity through low-cost carriers and rail networks will support seamless travel across GCC nations, according to Arab News.
Experts emphasize that the unified visa will accelerate Saudi Arabia’s tourism and business diversification, helping the Kingdom move closer to its target of 150 million visitors annually by 2030. Large-scale events, including Formula 1 in Jeddah, Riyadh Season, and the Asian Winter Games in Trojena, further strengthen the Kingdom’s competitive edge in attracting international tourists.
Infrastructure investments are critical to realizing the visa’s potential. Plans include developing Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam airports as regional connectors, launching Riyadh Air, completing the GCC Railway, and integrating domestic lines to ensure smooth land and air travel across the Gulf.
The visa is expected to generate broad economic benefits beyond tourism. Hospitality, logistics, transportation, and entertainment sectors are likely to see increased demand. Integrated travel platforms covering bookings, visas, and itineraries are poised to spur innovation and support experience-based tourism, including cultural, wellness, and adventure packages.
From a business perspective, the unified visa will facilitate cross-border trade, ease business travel, and attract global professionals to the region. This supports Vision 2030’s goals of fostering talent mobility, regional economic integration, and positioning Saudi Arabia as an innovation hub in technology, healthcare, and finance.
Long-term, the unified visa could reshape the Gulf’s economic and geopolitical landscape. Saudi Arabia is set to strengthen its role as a central node for regional connectivity, trade, and policy coordination, cementing its leadership in tourism, business, and strategic regional integration.
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