Oman eases travel rules for GCC residents

Muscat: Oman Airports has issued guidelines to airlines and ground handling companies on rules related to travelers with GCC residence visas.

“The decision is based on the directives received by Oman Airports from the Directorate General of Passports & Residence regarding the visa of residents in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC), a statement from Saud Nasser al Said al Hubaishi,” vice president, Muscat International Airport.

Sources at Oman Air and Civil Aviation Authority have confirmed the new decision to the Observer.

New directives are:

1. All residents of the GCC countries have the right to enter the Sultanate of Oman for all commercial professions.

It is not required to come from the country of residency for example -a resident of any GCC country is not required to arrive directly from that GCC country to benefit from this facility.

2. It Is permitted at any time and from any destination they arrive from.

3. For the application of what is stated in items 1 and 2 above, it is required that the residence visa be valid in the GCC for a period of no less than three months.

4. The procedures referred to above are applied to take into account the importance of adherence to the policy of granting visas to prohibited nationalities.