The UAE and Saudi Arabia intend to launch an analogue of the Schengen visa for tourists
The countries of the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf are negotiating the introduction of a "Schengen-type visa", which will allow tourists to visit all partner countries on one visa.
The corresponding statement was made by officials of the countries during the completed Arab Tourist Market.
"We have huge opportunities. In 2022, we had 9.9 million visitors," said the Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Fatima Al Sairafi.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has become a successful test for cooperation between the countries of the region. This has sparked discussions about a permanent travel policy that would allow tourists to move freely between countries without restrictions.
The Gulf States, in particular the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, regulate the issuance of visas at different rates, which makes visa policy difficult. Therefore, a "Schengen-type visa" for the region can be extremely profitable.
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