UAE consider visa-free travel for GCC residents to boost tourism

The UAE is considering plans for a new visa system that will simplify the travel of residents to Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, “Bloomberg” reported.

“The new visa policy would allow citizens of GCC, including Saudi Arabia, to travel freely within the bloc’s member countries,” UAE Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri said.

“Such a system could be introduced very soon,” he added.

The minister pointed out that the Gulf countries benefit from the tourism renaissance in Saudi Arabia, adding that what is considered good for the kingdom benefits the wider region, including the UAE.

The GCC countries include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar. Citizens of these six countries can travel freely across borders without applying for visas, but residents often need visas to travel between the GCC countries.

The UAE Minister of Economy said that 70% of the tourism coming to the UAE comes from international markets and that the country has all the necessary ingredients to support the tourism sector.