Dubai: Imagine applying for a single visa, and gaining the ability to visit all six Gulf nations. This is the Unified GCC Visa, and it is set to launch soon, making travel across the Gulf region easier and cheaper for residents.Here is all you need to know about this upcoming visa system.What is the Unified GCC Visa?The Unified GCC Visa, also sometimes known as the GCC Grand Tours Visa, is an initiative introduced by Gulf countries as a key part of their Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Joint Tourism Strategy 2023-2030 – a collaborative plan established by the member states to transform the region into a premier global destination.Functioning like Europe’s Schengen visa, the new visa will allow eligible travellers – non-GCC citizens who are residents of Gulf countries, as well as tourists – to journey between Gulf nations on a single visa, supporting easier administration, faster processing, and more efficient movement.Currently, only GCC citizens enjoy visa-free travel across the Gulf. As a GCC resident, you are required to apply for separate e-visas for Gulf countries, each with its own fees and eligibility criteria.When will it be launched?The Unified GCC Visa was officially approved by GCC countries – UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar – in November 2023, in an effort to promote tourism and make it more convenient for tourists and non-GCC nationals living in the Gulf to explore other countries in the region.Although a targeted rollout was originally planned between 2024 and 2025, the launch has been delayed to the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to the readiness of each country’s internal systems, and once specific legislations for the visa are in place. The exact date for the launch has not yet been confirmed.Expected benefits for Unified GCC Visa holdersMulti-country travel: Visa holders would be able to travel seamlessly across the six GCC countries on a single visa, eliminating the need for multiple applications, and reducing administrative load.Simplified application process: The Unified GCC Visa eliminates the need to fill in and submit separate application forms for multiple destinations within the Gulf. Requiring reduced time and effort, the streamlined application process is expected to take mere minutes, and can be completed online.Opportunity for tourism: By opening doors to all six Gulf countries, the visa allows greater opportunities for regional tourism, allowing visitors to explore culturally rich, diverse nations.Extended stays: Currently, residents of other GCC countries visiting the UAE are allowed entry for 30 days (extendable for another 30 days) when they obtain an e-visa. The Unified GCC Visa is expected to increase visa validity from 30 to 90 days, giving tourists the opportunity to fully explore and immerse themselves in regional cultures.Cost-effective system: Since the new visa process requires a single application, it is expected to be far cheaper than applying for separate visas for each Gulf country.Required documentsAlthough the requisite documents for visa application have not been announced, Ras Al Khaimah’s official tourism website outlines the following list of documents as a standard requirement for the Unified GCC Visa. Final details are likely to be announced during the visa program’s official launch.A passport, valid for at least six months at the time of applicationLatest passport-sized photographProof of ready accommodation, such as a hotel booking or an invitation letter from a resident of the relevant countryBank statements that provide proof of travel fundsTravel itineraryTravel insurance policy

AL QUAA DESERT: The gleaming skyscrapers and bright lights of the United Arab Emirates draw the eyes of all who travel there, a sign of the Arabian Peninsula nation's rapid development over the last decades into a major hub for commerce and tourism.Stars in the night sky once guided caravans across the shifting desert dunes of its vast interior, known as the Empty Quarter.A group of volunteers from the Dubai Astronomy Group recently has been helping people reconnect with the sight of stars and the Milky Way by taking them on nighttime excursions to Al Quaa Desert, one of the darkest spots remaining in the Emirates.City lights don't reach Al Quaa Desert."It causes us to appreciate our existence in this galaxy," Sheeraz Awan, the general manager of the astronomy group, said as he guided participants through a weekend view of the stars in late May.The desert is easily reachable by vehicle, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) southeast of the city of Abu Dhabi along a major highway to the oasis city of Al Ain, then another road south far out into the desert.Despite overhead road lights on the stretch known as Razeen Road, the desert stretches just beyond in total darkness, unburdened by the bright illumination of the city. Razeen Road finally jogs east, but an automatic gate opens to allow drivers onto an unpaved road leading deeper into the desert.Kilometres further along, past those camping in the dunes and enjoying some of the last good overnight weather before the UAE summertime high temperatures of around 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit), the astronomers gathered dozens of people to see the stars.Under one small LED lamp signaling where to park, a Solifugae - better known as a camel spider - ate another camel spider after a long struggle. The creature ran briefly toward a journalist and a volunteer before the vibrations of an approaching car sent it scurrying back into the darkness. Everyone around then carefully watched their steps.On carpets laid out for the weekend excursion in May, families speaking Arabic, English and Russian looked up at the sky. The half-moon slowly set over the horizon. Soon, the outline of the Milky Way could be seen by the naked eye."When you look toward the east, can you see that faint cloud," Awan asked. "That, ladies and gentlemen, is the Milky Way."He used a laser point to highlight the array of stars, drawing one woman to exclaim: "Ay ye ye!"The Dubai Astronomy Group volunteers described this as one of the best times of the year to see the galaxy. Several gasped as they spotted meteors occasionally streaking across the sky, easily visible in the darkness.Some gathered around telescopes to look at individual stars. Others lay flat on the cold desert sand, getting tips on how to make their mobile phones take long-exposure pictures to see the galaxy gleaming overhead. Over time, people slowly drifted to their cars and started the drive back to the UAE's lighted highways and cities."When we look at this Milky Way, we're kind of involved in an activity, which is not new," Awan told the stargazers. "It's something that people throughout time have been engaged in."