GCC unified visa gets approval

There will be a unified visa for six member countries of the GCC akin to the Schengen visa. It was first shared at the Arabian Travel Market and now the formal approval is here.

TT Bureau

His Excellency Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), addressing the 40th session of Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Interior Ministers of the GCC countries, announced that the member countries have unanimously approved a Schengen style GCC tourism visa. The meeting was organised in Muscat, Oman, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Sayyed Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior of Oman and President of the current session. Beginning the speech, the Secretary General expressed gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Sultan of the Sultanate of Oman and Chairman of the current session of the GCC Supreme Council, and the government of the Sultanate of Oman and the people of the Sultanate, for their efforts made to support the joint GCC action for meeting the aspirations of the citizens of the council countries and the quest for more cohesion, cooperation and integration among the council’s countries.

His Excellency Albudaiwi said that the GCC countries are exemplary in terms of the progress and prosperity they have achieved at all levels, as well as the regional and international status they have reached in development, especially the development of the GCC citizen.

Furthermore, he stated that making these accomplishments by the GCC countries requires securing a high level of national security, and ensuring monitoring and deterrence of everything that may hinder this blessed march that the GCC countries have achieved in record time. The Secretary General pointed out that the increasing danger of the scourge of drugs, which has become worrying for society at all levels, requires everyone to work hand in hand to confront its spread among the youth of the council countries according to a unified strategy that addresses all fronts (prevention – control – treatment). Additionally, he hailed the multiple national campaigns undertaken by the GCC countries, in addition to the great efforts made by security personnel in combating drugs in the member states.