President of Saudi Tourism Highlights Momentum Behind Unified GCC Visa

Dr. Emad Manshi, President of the Saudi Tourism Association, has confirmed that the Unified Gulf Tourist Visa has made major progress. He said the project has moved forward steadily over the past four years through joint efforts by GCC member states.

Manshi said the visa plan involves multiple layers. It includes technical, political, security, and legal components. He noted that the process is not easy and cannot be rushed. According to him, the Gulf model is different from the European Schengen system, both in structure and timing.

Manshi pointed out that the Schengen Agreement took ten years to implement fully. In contrast, the Gulf states are close to launching their unified visa in a much shorter period of time. 

He pointed out that tourism was not a strategic focus in the Gulf when Europe introduced the Schengen Agreement in 1985. Only Dubai had begun building its tourism sector in 1995, and the other countries, such as Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, followed years later.

Highlighting regional travel trends, Manshi noted that four major Gulf airlines carried over 150 million passengers in a single year. Of those, 70 million traveled within the GCC, while 80 million were classified as transit passengers. He added that as the region expands its tourism destinations and offerings, passenger numbers are expected to rise further.

Manshi also addressed the region’s reliance on air travel. He said that more than 99 percent of tourists arrive by air, pointing to the region’s geography and lack of immediate tourism-generating neighbors to the north or south.

The President of Saudi Tourism highlighted the role of low-cost airlines in supporting growth. Manshi praised the performance of Flynas in Saudi Arabia and Air Arabia in the UAE and mentioned that these carriers operate internationally and expand access to the region. Airport readiness and strong air connectivity, he added, are essential for the GCC visa to work.

In closing, Manshi said the project is backed by top-level political support. Leaders of the GCC have empowered ministries of tourism, justice, interior, and foreign affairs to keep pushing forward. He described the unified visa as a key step for boosting tourism and strengthening regional cooperation.