The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are investigating ideas to develop a regional Schengen style visa gcc for tourists, which is likely to boost economic growth, according to Bahrain’s Minister of Tourism.
Fatima al-Sairafi, speaking at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, UAE, said the countries were studying ways to establish a unified single visa.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar are all GCC members.
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“We believe this will happen very soon because we see people flying from other countries to Europe spending time in more than one country.” “We really saw the value this can bring to all of us, not just each country,” the minister told a panel at the ATM.
– Fatima al-Sairafi
Saudi Tourism Authority News:
Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, indicated that if the visa system is implemented, future travellers will be more likely to visit numerous nations in a region rather than a single country.
“I believe that future travellers will consider multiple stops, routes, and regions,” Hamidaddin added.
– Hamidaddin
Abdullah al-Saleh, the UAE’s Undersecretary for the Ministry of Economy, stated that the entire Gulf area would benefit from “having umbrella regulations, policies, and procedures to facilitate growth.”
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Al-Saleh stated that GCC countries want to offer a better experience to long-distance visitors by allowing them to visit multiple countries in the region through a single package without facing any travel restrictions. This will make the visitors happier and encourage them to explore more countries in the GCC region.
Schengen Style Visa GCC
A Schengen-style visa is a type of visa that allows the holder to travel freely within the Schengen Area, which is a group of 26 European countries that have abolished internal borders and created a common visa policy. The Schengen Area includes most of the European Union (EU) member states, as well as several non-EU countries such as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
The Schengen-style visa is also known as a uniform Schengen visa or a short-stay visa. It allows the holder to stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. This type of visa is issued by a Schengen Area member state and is valid for travel to all other member states.
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To obtain a Schengen style visa gcc, an applicant must provide certain documents, such as a valid passport, proof of travel insurance, and proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay in the Schengen Area. The visa application process may also include an interview with a consular officer and biometric data collection (such as fingerprints).
It’s important to note that the Schengen style visa gcc does not allow the holder to work or study in the Schengen Area. If someone wishes to do so, they would need to apply for a separate work or study visa.
What is GCC Countries?
GCC stands for Gulf Cooperation Council. It is a political and economic union of six countries located in the Persian Gulf region of the Middle East. The GCC was established in 1981 and its member states include:
| Bahrain | Qatar |
| Kuwait | Saudi Arabia |
| Oman | United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
The GCC countries share many common cultural, religious, and economic ties. They are all predominantly Muslim and have Arabic as their official language. The region is also home to some of the world’s largest oil and gas reserves, which has helped to fuel their economies.
The GCC countries have implemented several initiatives aimed at enhancing economic cooperation, including the establishment of a customs union, a common market, and a unified currency. The GCC also plays a key role in regional security, with member states cooperating on issues such as counter-terrorism and military defense.
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Overall, the GCC countries are an important geopolitical and economic force in the Middle East, and their cooperation helps to promote stability and prosperity in the region.
GCC Countries to Launch New Schengen Style Visa GCC to Expand Tourism
To entice more tourists to the region, the GCC countries are looking to implement a unified visa. The move is likely to boost income and foot traffic in all GCC countries. Fatima Al Sairafi, Bahrain’s Minister of Tourism, indicated that talks were underway to create a unified single visa.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is planning to establish a “Schengen-style” visa for visitors that would allow holders to travel to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman with a single visa in order to boost tourism income and footfall for all nations in the region.
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During the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Fatima Al Sairafi, Bahrain’s Minister of Tourism, stated that discussions are underway at the ministerial level among GCC nations on how to achieve a unified single visa.
“We see that happening very soon because we see people flying from other countries to Europe spending their time in several countries rather than just one.” We saw the value this can bring not just to each country, but to all of us.”
– Al Sairafi Said
How the Schengen Style Visa GCC Will Make Travel in GCC Countries Easier:
The planned ‘Schengen-style’ visa for visitors in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is designed to function similarly to the Schengen visa in Europe.
The Schengen visa, for example, allows tourists to visit 26 European countries without the requirement for additional visas. Similarly, with the unified GCC visa, travellers would be able to visit all GCC nations with a single visa, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.
Visitors to GCC countries currently require separate visas for each country they visit. This process can be time-consuming and expensive, resulting in a decrease in tourists.
Bahrain’s tourism business benefits from a unified destination:
According to Al Sairafi, Bahrain has profited from joint promotion with the UAE and Saudi Arabia. “We aimed for 8.3 million tourists in 2022, but we got 9.9 million because we co-promoted Bahrain with the UAE and other GCC markets.” “As a result, there were more tourists,” she remarked.
Important for GCC tourism growth:
The undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, Abdullah Al Saleh, feels that the tourism sector is critical to the success of the GCC economies.
“We have a united market and policies.” By having umbrella legislation, policies, and processes in place to support expansion, the GCC can benefit from both supply and demand in the tourism sector.”
To ensure a sustainable tourist sector, the ministers developed a single GCC tourism policy to raise the sector’s contribution to GCC GDP, boost national employment, boost competitiveness, and promote distinctive events.
“”Having one goal and one vision is part of the GCC’s comprehensive vision,” Al Saleh added.
– Al Saleh
Travellers want to visit numerous locations and areas.
According to Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, today’s travellers consider an area rather than a country. “I believe that future tourists will consider multiple stops, itineraries, and locations. “He believes that joint offerings can be promoted and benefit everyone.
Conclusion for Schengen Style Visa GCC
Finally, discussions among GCC countries to create a unified single visa are ongoing, and details about the visa’s application process and eligibility criteria have yet to be announced. The visa, however, is expected to make GCC travel considerably more accessible and convenient for travellers once it is adopted. It should be noted that the Schengen style visa gcc does not permit the holder to work or study in the Schengen Area.
FAQs
What are the 4 types of Schengen visas?
These are divided into four major Schengen Visa categories or Schengen Visa types: A, B, C, and D.
Uniform Schengen Visas are classified into three classes.
An airport transit visa.
Schengen visa type B.
Schengen visa type C.
Schengen visa type D or national long-stay visa.
Does UAE residents need Schengen visa?
As the EU draws closer to digitising the permission procedure, UAE residents who intend to go to Schengen nations would no longer have to wait for appointments, stand in queue or present their passports to complete their visas.
What does Type C Schengen visa mean?
A short-stay visa (C Type) permits an individual to: transit through or stay in the Schengen Area’s territory for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; and. Transit through the international transit zones of Schengen Area airports.
How UAE residents can apply for Schengen visa?
Visa applications for the Schengen Area:
According to the source, UAE residents asking for an EU visa must submit a fully filled application form, a valid passport, two pictures, and proof of UAE residency permits that are valid for at least three months after the desired date of departure for the area.
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