The forthcoming Unified GCC Tourist Visa represents one of the most concrete steps yet toward functional regional integration in the Gulf. While often compared to Europe’s Schengen system, the initiative is best understood as a targeted response to a long-standing structural problem: bureaucratic fragmentation that discourages multi-country travel in a region that increasingly markets itself as interconnected.

Under the new framework, visitors would apply once through a unified digital platform and gain access to all six GCC states, namely the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait, on a single short-stay visa. Current planning points to a 30-day validity period, with a projected fee in the range of $90–130. The intent is to facilitate multi-destination itineraries that have so far been constrained by separate national visa regimes.

This shift aligns directly with the region’s economic diversification strategies, where tourism has emerged as a critical non-oil growth sector. By lowering administrative barriers, the GCC is effectively repositioning itself as a single interlinked tourism space, rather than six adjacent but disconnected markets.

Why the launch has taken time

The repeated postponements of the unified visa’s rollout reflect not a lack of political commitment, but the complexity of aligning security governance across six sovereign states. A system that permits region-wide movement after a single-entry screening requires a high degree of trust among participating authorities.

This trust is built through technical integration: shared biometric databases, interoperable entry-exit systems, and a unified regional watchlist or “blacklist.” Without these mechanisms, mutual recognition of visa decisions would expose member states to security blind spots. The unified visa is therefore as much a security infrastructure project as it is a tourism initiative.

A Schengen-inspired but distinct model

Comparisons with Europe’s Schengen area are inevitable, but the differences are instructive. Schengen spans 29 countries, largely abolishes internal border checks, and is embedded within the European Union’s broader framework of freedom of movement. The GCC model is narrower in scope and more conservative by design.

Physical border controls will remain in place, and the unified visa does not confer rights to work, reside, or settle. It does not harmonise labour markets or immigration law. Instead, it focuses on short-term mobility for tourism and related activities. In this sense, it is a mobility facilitation tool, not a political integration project.

Compliance, overstay penalties, and regional security

One of the most consequential, though less visible, features of the unified visa is its enforcement architecture. Overstay violations are expected to trigger harmonised and escalating penalties, including daily fines, possible travel bans, and automatic flagging across GCC-wide databases.

This approach strengthens regional security in several ways. First, it eliminates jurisdictional loopholes. Under current arrangements, an individual who overstays or violates visa conditions in one Gulf state may still be able to enter another. Under the unified system, a violation in one country would be visible to all six, ensuring consistent enforcement.

Second, shared data improves risk assessment. For example, if a visitor enters through Dubai, overstays in one member state, and attempts to re-enter the region at a later date through another entry point, the unified database would immediately flag the prior violation. This not only deters abuse but also enhances early identification of individuals who may pose broader security or compliance risks.

In this sense, the unified visa expands mobility while simultaneously tightening accountability, a balance that is central to modern border governance.

Implications for the UAE and the wider GCC

For the UAE, the unified visa reinforces its position as the region’s primary aviation and mobility gateway. Given its airline networks and infrastructure, it is likely to serve as a principal entry point where initial biometric and security screening is conducted on behalf of the wider bloc. This elevates the UAE’s strategic role but also underscores the need for sustained investment in border management technologies.

For residents and expatriates across the GCC, the visa promises a meaningful improvement in regional mobility, replacing fragmented national procedures with a single, predictable framework. For the region as a whole, it operationalises long-standing ambitions to translate political coordination into tangible economic and social outcomes.

A measured but meaningful step forward

The Unified GCC Visa is not a Middle Eastern Schengen, nor is it intended to be. Its importance lies in its pragmatism. By reducing bureaucratic friction, aligning tourism ambitions, and embedding mobility within a shared security framework, the GCC is taking a measured but significant step toward deeper functional integration.

If implemented effectively, the unified visa could become one of the most visible manifestations of Gulf cooperation, experienced not through policy declarations, but through smoother travel, longer stays, stronger compliance, and a region that increasingly functions as a coherent and competitive destination.

GN

The passport rankings for 2026 are out, and the list has hardly changed.

Singapore has retained its position as the world’s most powerful passport, offering access to 192 destinations visa-free, according to the Henley Passport Index 2026.

Japan and South Korea rank joint 2nd, each offering visa-free access to 188 destinations, reinforcing Asia’s long-standing leadership at the top of the global mobility rankings. Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland follow in 3rd place with access to 186 destinations, ahead of an unprecedented group of 10 European countries — Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands and Norway — tied for 4^th.

The remainder of the upper-tier passports continue to underscore Europe’s dominance, with notable exceptions including UAE (5th), New Zealand (6th), Australia (7th), Canada (8th), and Malaysia (9th), the report showed.

Weakest passport

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Afghanistan once again ranks last, with its passport holders able to travel to just 24 destinations without a prior visa. The resulting 168-destination gap starkly illustrates the scale of global mobility inequality in 2026 — a dramatic widening of the divide since 2006, when the difference between the then top-ranking US passport and Afghanistan was only 118 destinations.

“Over the past 20 years, global mobility has expanded significantly, but the benefits have been distributed unevenly”, said Christian H. Kaelin, chairman at Henley & Partners and creator of the Henley Passport Index. “Today, passport privilege plays a decisive role in shaping opportunity, security, and economic participation, with rising average access masking a reality in which mobility advantages are increasingly concentrated among the world’s most economically powerful and politically stable nations.”

“A record number of people are expected to travel in 2026. The unequivocal economic and social benefits generated by this travel grow as it becomes more accessible. But while more people have the economic freedom to travel, many nationalities are seeing that a passport alone is no longer sufficient to cross borders”, said IATA director general Willie Walsh. “As many governments look to more tightly secure their borders, technological advances such as digital ID and digital passports should not be overlooked by policymakers. Convenient travel and secure borders are possible.”

Heavy loss for UK, US back in top 10

The US has returned to the top 10 after briefly dropping out for the first time in late 2025, but this recovery masks a longer-term decline for both the US and the UK, which jointly held 1st place in 2014. The past year saw both countries record their steepest annual losses in visa-free access, shedding seven and eight destinations, respectively. The US has suffered the third largest ranking decline over the past two decades — after Venezuela and Vanuatu — falling six places from 4th to 10th, while the UK ranks as the fourth-biggest faller, down four places from 3rd in 2006 to 7th in 2026.

Biggest gainers

The UAE stands out as the strongest performer on the Henley Passport Index over the past 20 years, adding 149 visa-free destinations since 2006 and climbing 57 places to 5th on the rankings with access to 184 destinations visa-free, driven by sustained diplomatic engagement and visa liberalisation, the report said.

Countries across the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe have also made significant gains over the past two decades, led by Albania, which climbed 36 places to rank 43rd on the index. Ukraine has risen 34 places (to 30th), followed by Serbia (+30 to 34th), North Macedonia (+27 to 38th), and both Bosnia and Herzegovina (+29) and Georgia (+26), which now share 42nd place. Together, these advances highlight the impact of regional integration and closer alignment with key partners.

Bolivia is the only country on the index to have seen an overall decline in visa-free access over the past 20 years, losing 5 visa-free destinations and falling 32 places to rank at 61st in 2026.

GN

New Year Begins With Addition Of Istanbul And Four Domestic Services

40 Per Cent Rise In Weekly Flights Provides More Travel Options

Madinah, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA – flyadeal, Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing low-cost airline, has rung in the New Year in emphatic style launching five routes from Madinah, its newest operational base in the Kingdom.

The introduction of scheduled flights to Sabiha Gökçen in Istanbul and four domestic cities of Abha, Al Hofuf, Jazan and Tabuk, takes the number of flyadeal destinations from Madinah’s Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport up from three to eight. Until now, flyadeal had served Dammam, Riyadh and the Egyptian capital Cairo from the Holy city.

The capacity hike represents a 40 per cent increase in the number of flyadeal operated flights out of Madinah to 88 a week, giving customers greater travel options. Two aircraft are now permanently positioned at the airport, which joins flyadeal’s three other operational bases of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

To mark the expansion, airport officials joined flyadeal management led by Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Rogier van Enk, for a fanfare of engaging activities celebrating with passengers.

Steven Greenway, flyadeal Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’ve steadily built capacity from Madinah, but this expansion of five new routes at the beginning of the year is a statement of intent from flyadeal to develop Madinah into one of our key operational bases.

“Having aircraft positioned in Madinah gives us the flexibility to quickly upgrade with more frequencies or add routes to a schedule which will continue to be built up giving our customers more choices and convenience of direct flights to travel within the Kingdom and beyond. Madinah was a natural addition as a base given its prominence as the second holiest city in the Islamic world and key gateway for pilgrims.”

The expanded schedule supplements flyadeal’s dedicated year-round Umrah flights from several countries direct to Madinah, north of the Saudi port city of Jeddah.

Rogier van Enk, flyadeal Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, said: “The additional routes aim to cater to both outbound travel for holidaymakers and business travellers living and working in and around Madinah, while also attracting inbound pilgrimages. My commercial team and I look forward to continue working with the authorities at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport to explore more opportunities building air travel connectivity in line with Saudi Vision 2030.”

flyadeal’s additional routes support an already high demand operation from Madinah. Daily Cairo flights are now being served 11 times a week; frequency on the Dammam route is up from 19 to 26 flights each week; and Riyadh maintains a five-times daily schedule.

The new domestic routes serve different parts of the Kingdom – southwest coastal city of Jazan; Tabuk in the northwest; Al Hofuf in the country’s Eastern Province; and Abha in the southwestern mountainous region of Aseer province.

Almost 60 per cent of flyadeal’s 44-strong narrowbody fleet of Airbus A320s is based at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh; 11 aircraft are positioned at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah; five at Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport; and now two in Madinah.

flyadeal’s growth strategy includes its fleet topping 100 aircraft by 2030 and network more than tripling to over 100 destinations within five years.

Tickets for the new Madinah routes are on sale, bookable via flyadeal’s Mobile App, website www.flyadeal.com and through travel agents.

About flyadeal

On 23 September 2017, National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, flyadeal began operations with its historic maiden flight from Jeddah to Riyadh. A pioneer and innovator, flyadeal was the first regional low-cost airline to be launched only across digital distribution channels. Being the sister airline of full-service national carrier Saudia — both under the umbrella ownership of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation (Saudia Group) — flyadeal was created for the price-conscious and tech-savvy consumer in mind in a market where 80 per cent of the Saudi population is aged less than 40 years and has at least two mobile phones.

flyadeal aims to stimulate travel, tourism and trade with its affordable, value for money everyday fares catering to leisure, religious, family and business travellers. Simplicity is key with an all-Economy Class cabin across flyadeal’s narrowbody fleet. With the Kingdom undergoing dramatic transformation through its Vision 2030 economic diversification drive, aviation and tourism are among the many sectors earmarked for dynamic growth. flyadeal is the fastest growing airline in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Middle East, recognised for excellence in on-time performance that is consistently above the global industry average.

flyadeal operates a young fleet of Airbus A320s flying from bases in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah to destinations across Saudi Arabia with a growing international footprint in Europe, Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. The airline has flown over 40 million passengers since its inaugural flight. In May 2024, flyadeal placed its biggest ever order for 51 aircraft – 12 A320neos and 39 larger A321neos – with a delivery schedule beginning in 2027. In addition, flyadeal will operate long-haul scheduled services from 2027 with the phased induction of 10 Airbus A330neo widebody aircraft ordered by Saudia Group in April 2025.

By 2030, flyadeal plans to operate hundreds of routes that will see its fleet more than double and network increase three-fold to over 100 aircraft and destinations, respectively. flyadeal’s aggressive expansion drive makes the rapidly growing airline one of the country’s most desirable companies to work for.