The Dubai International Airport. ARCHIVE

The UAE is set to begin testing a one-stop GCC travel system that could significantly streamline regional air travel. The pilot project will be conducted between the UAE and Bahrain. The one-stop travel system will initially apply only to UAE nationals. It was announced after a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting on November 12. GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi confirmed that the bloc will finalize the framework and conditions for the system by end of 2025. The trial will allow GCC citizens to complete immigration and security checks only once, at their airport of departure. For example, a UAE passenger flying from Zayed International Airport to Bahrain would undergo screening in Abu Dhabi, with no further checks on arrival. Officials say the system could ease airport congestion, standardize border procedures, and improve passenger flow across the region. The project is separate from the highly anticipated GCC Unified Tourist Visa, also known as the GCC Grand Tours Visa, expected to launch in 2026. Unlike the one-stop travel system, the unified visa will benefit residents and tourists, enabling seamless travel across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and the UAE. Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb said earlier in November that the joint visa is nearing completion after four years of development. The scheme will simplify visa processes and reduce costs for millions of expatriates who currently require separate visas for each GCC country. ICA/Expat Media
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