Manama: Gulf Cooperation Council(GCC) plans to launch a unified visa for tourists visiting the region by mid-2014, aimed at simplifying travel formalities for the visitors.
“The plan to have a GCC tourism visa, similar to the Schengen visa in Europe, is about to be implemented after obstacles have been cleared,” as quoted by the security sources as saying.
With the help of new visa, Arab and foreign tourists could visit all GCC member countries which include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, simplifying travel formalities for visitors.
A single-entry visa should be valid for one month while multiple-entry visas could be issued for one year, reports said, adding that the conditions for obtaining the GCC visa include presenting evidence of sufficient financial resources.
Foreigners who are not allowed to enter a GCC country for legal reasons and those who had been deported will not be issued the unified visa.
