According to Gulf Today, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) recently announced the approval of a "one-stop" travel system, aiming to simplify cross-border mobility procedures for citizens of member states. The first-phase pilot of the system will launch between the UAE and Bahrain in December this year.

Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the GCC, revealed to the Kuwait News Agency at the 42nd GCC Interior Ministers' Meeting held in Kuwait City that the new system will allow GCC citizens to complete immigration, customs and security checks at a single checkpoint upon arrival. This eliminates multiple inspections and shortens entry processing time.

Under the plan, the UAE and Bahrain will serve as the first pilot countries to implement the system for air travel between them. If the pilot proves effective, this customs clearance model will be gradually extended to all six GCC member states, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait.

The GCC Secretary-General added that the new system will also feature a unified electronic platform to track and share travel violation records among member states, enhancing regional travel efficiency.

This "one-stop" system emulates the coordination mechanism of the EU Schengen Area, reflecting the Gulf region's determination to promote deep integration.

The system upgrade is part of a series of initiatives by the Gulf region to improve mobility and integrate travel infrastructure. The GCC is preparing to launch the "Unified Gulf Tourism Visa" program, allowing visitors to travel to all six countries with a single permit.

As planned, the pilot phase of the GCC unified visa will start in the fourth quarter of 2025, offering more convenient cross-border travel experiences for residents and tourists.

Testing the new system on routes between the UAE and Bahrain will verify the coordination capabilities among immigration, customs and aviation authorities. If effective, the implementation of the system across all member states will reshape regional travel for GCC citizens, enabling more efficient people-to-people flow and potentially boosting regional connectivity and economic activities.

While details of the digital technology architecture of the "one-stop" travel system have not been fully disclosed, its launch in December 2025 marks a significant step forward in the Gulf region's travel integration efforts.