KUWAIT CITY — Kuwait has begun granting tourist visas on arrival to foreign residents of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, under a new policy announced by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef.

The decision, published in the official gazette Kuwait Alyoum, took effect immediately and replaces a 2008 regulation on tourism entry for GCC residents.

Under the new rules, any foreign national holding a valid residency permit from a GCC member state — Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, or Oman — with at least six months’ validity can enter Kuwait on a tourist visa issued at the port of entry.

The applicant’s nationality will not affect eligibility as long as the residency condition is met.

At airports and land borders, eligible travelers can apply at designated immigration counters, where officers will verify residency permits, confirm the six-month validity, and check travel documents before issuing the visa.

The Interior Ministry said the change aims to align Kuwait’s entry rules with regional trends and ease travel for the expatriate population in GCC states. Officials expect it will encourage short leisure trips and family visits, boosting spending in hospitality, retail, and cultural sectors.

The move follows similar visa facilitation measures in the UAE and Oman, and is part of Gulf-wide efforts to improve connectivity and diversify economies through tourism. — Agencies