MUSCAT: The widely-discussed unified tourism visa by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will be launched soon, GCC Secretary General Jassem Al Budaiwi, has announced on Wednesday.

Al Budaiwi’s remarks came following his meeting with the heads of passport departments from GCC Interior Ministries. He praised the collective efforts that helped bring the unified visa initiative closer to reality.

The strategic move is seen as a critical milestone for regional tourism, enabling seamless travelling across all six GCC countries – Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, UAE, and Bahrain

Earlier last month, UAE Minister of Economy, Abdulla bin Touq Al-Marri, had states that the Schengen-style single tourist visa has been officially approved and is set to be rolled out soon.