Why in news?
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has announced a pilot “one‑stop travel system” to be launched between the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in December 2025. Travellers on this route will undergo all immigration and customs checks at a single point before departure, allowing them to collect their baggage and exit immediately on arrival. If successful, the system will be expanded to all six member states.
Background
The GCC is a political and economic alliance formed in 1981 by Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Its aim is to promote unity based on common Arab culture and Islamic values. The alliance has developed shared defence arrangements, including the Peninsula Shield Force, and undertaken economic integration through a customs union and a common market. Member states have introduced a 5 percent value‑added tax and discussed a single currency. The one‑stop travel system is part of broader plans to encourage tourism and free movement within the region, alongside initiatives like a unified tourist visa (“Grand Tours Visa”) and the ambitious Gulf Railway project.
How the one‑stop system works
- Shared checkpoint: Immigration, customs and security procedures will be completed at the departure airport. Passengers will not undergo any further formalities upon arrival.
- Electronic data sharing: Member states will use a common digital platform to exchange passenger information, ensuring security while reducing duplication.
- Integrated visa policies: The system complements plans for a unified tourist visa allowing visitors to travel across GCC countries with one permit.
- Future expansion: If the trial between the UAE and Bahrain succeeds, the other four countries will adopt the system, making intra‑GCC travel smoother for residents and tourists.
Benefits of the initiative
- Travel convenience: Reduces transit times and queues, particularly at congested airports, enhancing passenger experience.
- Economic boost: Simplified travel encourages tourism, business trips and labour mobility, contributing to diversification away from oil‑dependent economies.
- Regional integration: Demonstrates political trust and cooperation among member states, reinforcing collective identity.
Conclusion
By trialling a one‑stop travel system, the GCC is taking concrete steps toward deeper regional integration. Smooth cross‑border movement can unlock economic opportunities and foster people‑to‑people connections. Success will depend on harmonising legal frameworks, improving digital infrastructure and maintaining security standards.
Source: News On Air · Encyclopaedia Britannica