In December 2025, the GCC will introduce a new one-stop travel system.
A big shift in Gulf tourism begins this December. The UAE and Bahrain will try a one-stop immigration system that clears people only at departure, eliminating arrival checks and lowering wait times. If the pilot succeeds, all six GCC nations could adopt it.
A big shift in Gulf tourism begins this December. The UAE and Bahrain will try a one-stop immigration system that clears people only at departure, eliminating arrival checks and lowering wait times. If the pilot succeeds, all six GCC nations could adopt it.
Travelling around the Gulf is going to alter in a dramatic way. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is proposing to test a new one-stop travel system starting in December 2025, and if it succeeds, flying within the GCC territory might become significantly quicker and less stressful.
What's Changing
As of present, when you fly from one GCC country to another, you clear immigration and security at your departure airport, then repeat the process upon arrival. The new pilot program attempts to eliminate that second round of checks.
Travelers will only finish immigration and security procedures at the airport of departure under the one-stop system. They don't have to wait in any arrival lines once they land in another GCC nation; instead, they can leave like domestic travelers.
Where The Trial Begins
Only flights between Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates will be included in the pilot program. Travelers flying from Bahrain to the UAE and from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Bahrain will have the same expedited experience because it will cover both routes.
For now, only GCC nationals will benefit during the test period. Authorities want to examine how the system works in real time, track queue times, and detect any operational flaws before opening it up more widely.
Plans for Expansion Should the Trial Be Successful
The objective is to extend the system to all six GCC nations if the pilot is safe and successful.
Bahrain
Oman and Kuwait
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
The United Arab Emirates
This would mean that a GCC national may fly across the region with a single immigration and security clearance at their departure airport, no matter how many stops or connecting flights they have within the GCC.
Could Non-GCC Travelers Get This Benefit Too?
The intriguing aspect is that GCC citizens may not be the only ones who can use the one-stop system in the future. Officials have hinted that future phases could involve overseas tourists as well.
Additionally, there is increasing discussion of connecting the system to the proposed GCC Grand Tours Visa. This visa idea would allow non-GCC tourists to visit various GCC nations with a single visa, similar to how the Schengen visa works in Europe.
Combining the two concepts would allow travelers to enter one Gulf nation and then go to the others without having to go through immigration procedures again.
Why This Matters For Travellers
Anyone traveling through crowded airports is greatly irritated by lengthy immigration lines. If the one-stop approach succeeds, expect reduced waiting times, fewer paperwork, smoother transfers, and easier multi-country travels.
It could also enhance tourism in the region. A visitor visiting Dubai for a week could be more likely to add Bahrain or Oman to their itinerary if airport requirements become reduced. Business travelers could save hours per month by moving between GCC locations.
Concluding Remarks
A major experiment in Gulf tourism will start in December 2025. A system that eliminates frequent immigration inspections and makes regional travel feel nearly local will be tested initially in the UAE and Bahrain. If everything goes well, the entire GCC could soon share a travel system that is faster, simpler, and significantly more convenient.
