GCC Visa Launch Nears as UAE and Bahrain Pilot New Travel System

Ahead of the Unified GCC Visa launch, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has announced that the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain will begin piloting a new “one-stop” travel system this December. 

The system is designed to streamline passenger processing by consolidating immigration, customs, and security procedures into a single checkpoint.

The announcement was made at the 42nd meeting of GCC Interior Ministers in Kuwait City. Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi introduced the new travel model, explaining that it will simplify air travel for Gulf citizens and cut down waiting times on arrival. Once cleared at one of the travel points, arrival or departure, travellers will not be subject to repeat checks upon landing.

Under the new system, a Bahraini passenger flying to Dubai, for example, will go through all necessary screenings at only one travel stop, and they will not undergo further immigration or security procedures. The system is expected to improve travel efficiency and help unify border protocols across the six GCC states.

This first test phase between Bahrain and the UAE is seen as a foundational step toward building a shared digital travel network for the region.

The pilot comes ahead of the long-anticipated launch of the Unified GCC Tourist Visa, now expected in 2026. Inspired by the Schengen model, this Gulf visa will allow tourists and residents to move freely across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE using a single entry permit. 

The rollout of the Unified Tourist Visa (GCC Grand Tours) project was delayed to align biometric, data-sharing, and security systems across all member states.

The “one-stop” system and the upcoming GCC Grand Tours are linked as both are part of a broader shift toward regional integration and digital border control. If the December pilot proves successful, similar systems could be deployed across the rest of the GCC to pave the way for faster, more connected travel across the Gulf.

In other news, GCC Ministers of Interior and Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah confirmed that the matter of the Unified GCC Visa will be referred to GCC foreign ministers for formal submission to the leaders of the member states..

They also announced plans for a joint security exercise and the launch of a new Gulf Security Conference focused on AI-driven awareness initiatives and digital defence collaboration.