GCC Single Tourist Visa Approved: Big Boost for Dubai, Indian, and Pakistani Travelers
In a major development for tourism across the Gulf region, the GCC single tourist visa has officially been approved and is expected to roll out soon, according to Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE’s Minister of Economy. This new initiative will allow foreign tourists, including those from India and Pakistan, to travel freely across all six GCC member states—the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait—on one unified visa.
“The single (GCC) tourist visa has been approved and is now with the Ministry of Interior and relevant stakeholders for final implementation,” Al Marri confirmed in a statement to Khaleej Times during the UAE Hospitality Summer Camp press conference.
A Game-Changer for Tourists from India and Pakistan
For travelers from India and Pakistan, the GCC Grand Tours Visa promises unmatched convenience. No longer limited to applying separately for each Gulf country, Indian and Pakistani tourists will soon be able to explore Dubai, Muscat, Riyadh, Doha, and more—all under one travel document. This move is expected to significantly increase tourist footfall from the Indian subcontinent, where Gulf countries are already popular destinations for family vacations, business travel, and religious tourism.
The new visa is being compared to Europe’s Schengen visa, which allows travel across multiple EU countries, and is set to revolutionize intra-GCC tourism.
Boost to Dubai Tourism and Gulf Economies
Tourism experts in Dubai and across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) believe the unified visa will be a catalyst for regional tourism and economic integration. With the rise of ‘bleisure’ (business + leisure) travel, more visitors—especially from India and Pakistan—are expected to extend business trips into vacation getaways across multiple Gulf countries.
According to the Statistical Centre for the GCC, the region welcomed 68.1 million visitors in 2023, generating $110.4 billion in tourism revenue. This marked a staggering 42.8% increase in arrivals compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The unified visa is expected to drive these numbers even higher in the coming years.
UAE and Dubai Tourism on the Rise
The UAE continues to play a central role in driving regional tourism, especially through Dubai, which remains a favorite destination for Indian and Pakistani travelers. According to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, the city welcomed 7.15 million visitors in the first four months of 2025—a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) also reported that the UAE’s tourism sector supported 833,000 jobs in 2024. This number is expected to reach one million by 2030, with one in every nine residents employed in the travel and tourism industry.
What It Means for Travelers from India and Pakistan
For travelers from India and Pakistan, the new GCC tourist visa will eliminate visa-processing delays and reduce travel costs. It opens up new opportunities for multi-country vacations, religious pilgrimages (such as to Makkah, Madinah, and Karbala), shopping trips, and family visits across the Gulf region.
Moreover, with Dubai’s world-class infrastructure, shopping festivals, and entertainment hubs, the city is expected to remain the preferred gateway for Indian and Pakistani tourists entering the region on the new visa.
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