GCC Unified Tourist Visa Will Allow Performing Umrah

Samira Yusuf

June 18, 2025

One Visa, Six Countries — and Potential Access to the Holy Cities Outside Hajj Season.

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A major shift in regional travel policy may soon make performing Umrah more accessible for millions of Muslims worldwide.

The upcoming GCC Unified Tourist Visa, set to launch by the end of 2025, is expected to allow entry into Saudi Arabia for Umrah, outside the Hajj season.

But, one has to take mandatory hotel booking from Nusuk Masar in order to get Umrah permit.

The visa, approved by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, will permit travelers to visit all six Gulf countries — Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain — on a single visa.

Though primarily aimed at boosting tourism across the region, the visa is also anticipated to become a convenient new pathway for Muslim pilgrims hoping to perform Umrah.

Umrah Access Likely — But Not During Hajj

While official guidelines are still pending, sources familiar with current visa frameworks suggest the unified visa will follow the existing Saudi tourist visa model.

That model currently allows Muslims to perform Umrah at any time of year — except during the Hajj season, when stricter pilgrimage regulations apply.

Given this precedent, the GCC tourist visa is highly likely to permit Umrah, making it easier for Muslims to include Makkah in multi-country itineraries or travel specifically for the pilgrimage while also visiting other Gulf destinations.

Currently, GCC residents can perform Umrah using Saudi tourist visas, and non-resident tourists from eligible countries can apply through the Saudi eVisa platform.

The visa is also expected to streamline travel planning and eliminate redundant visa applications across borders, particularly beneficial for Muslim tourists and diaspora communities in Europe, Asia, and Africa.