Unified GCC Visa will make travel easier

Hassle-free transits will require new type of GCC-wide travel insurance

- BY JUSTIN VARGHESE

Travel across the Gulf is about to get much simpler — and it’s not just good news for tourists. The upcoming Unified GCC Visa, which will let residents and visitors move freely between Gulf countries, is set to change how UAE residents travel and insure their trips.

For the region’s travel insurance sector, this could be transformative.

“With simplified entry requirements and more people exploring multiple destinations across the Gulf, we'll likely see an increase in short leisure trips, regional tourism, and cross-border business travel,” said Hitesh Motwani, Deputy CEO of InsuranceMarket.ae, noting that the initiative — dubbed the ‘GCC Grand Tours Visa’ — can have a ripple effect on the insurance industry.

“The introduction of a unified GCC visa will make regional travel much easier, and that’s expected to positively impact the travel insurance market,” he said.