
In December 2025, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will commence the pilot phase of its "one-stop" travel program. Under this program, GCC nationals traveling within the GCC will only need to complete immigration and security checks at the GCC airport from which their flight originates, and will not need to carry out the same procedures on arrival in another GCC country. The December 2025 pilot phase will be limited to flights between the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. If successful, the program may be expanded to all six GCC countries - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
This program – which is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and make travel smoother in the GCC – may potentially be extended to non-GCC nationals in the future, including as part of the separate GCC Grand Tours Visa proposal (which envisages non-GCC nationals traveling within the GCC on a single visa).
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
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