GCC Citizens to Get Easier Cross-Border Travel & Licence Recognition

Travel between Gulf Cooperation Council countries is set to become easier for GCC citizens through mutual recognition of driving licences, dedicated land-border lanes and electronically linked security systems.

GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi outlined the measures during a special session at the Security and History Dialogue 2026 in Riyadh on September 6th.

For drivers, licences issued by one GCC country are recognised across the bloc. GCC citizens visiting another member state can already use their existing licence without exchanging it, while those establishing residency can generally swap it for a local licence rather than restart the licensing process or take a new driving test. Procedures and fees differ between countries.

Bahrain, for example, processes GCC licence replacements through the General Directorate of Traffic in one working day for BHD 25, including an eye test and issuance of a five-year licence. Oman requires an approved vision test, residence documentation, the original licence and a blood group certificate, while the UAE and Kuwait also offer direct exchange services through their respective traffic authorities.

Border processing is also being streamlined. GCC citizens can cross member-state land borders using national ID cards without a passport or visa, while dedicated lanes and one-stop systems are being expanded at key crossings. The King Fahd Causeway between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain has operated a one-stop passport and customs system since 2018, with faster processing arrangements also introduced at crossings including Al Nuwaiseeb and Abu Samra.

Security systems across GCC states are increasingly interconnected as well, including a shared database for traffic violations. This allows authorities in one member state to access relevant records from others, with further digital integration of security services under development.