UAE visa-free travel for GCC states

The UAE may look at introducing visa-free travel for GCC states in the near future, as stated by UAE Minister of Economy, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, at the Future Hospitality Summit in Abu Dhabi. The country is considering the implementation of a new visa system, which will facilitate travel to the UAE for residents of GCC countries.

Al Marri said that this prospective system would grant the ability to travel freely among members of the GCCcountries. These include 6 states: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. As a result, the tourism sector within the region will be significantly strengthened due to the proposal for visa-free travel.

At the moment, citizens of these states can cross the borders without having to apply for a visa. However, they do still need to present their passport, which has been issued by a GCC country, or their ID card upon arrival at the entry points of the UAE. But foreign residents, who make up a large part of the population and were born in other countries of the world, face visa requirements when crossing the borders of the GCC states.

Currently, the UAE passport is the most powerful passport in the world, and also takes the top place on the Passport Index website. Holders of the UAE passport can access 180 countries worldwide, and visit 127 where no advance visa is required. UAE passport holders can also visit 53 countries, in which electronic visas or visas upon airport arrival are offered.