The two-day 2025 China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Tourism Trade Fair opened in Dubai on Tuesday, bringing together more than 160 participants from government, business, and academic sectors from China and GCC countries.
Held under the theme “Hello! China,” the fair features 53 Chinese companies and 83 GCC companies from the tourism sector and related industries.
In his opening speech, Chinese Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Zhang Yiming said that China and GCC countries are becoming increasingly important tourism destinations and source markets for each other. He highlighted that more Chinese tourists are traveling to the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar to experience the unique blend of desert and sea landscapes, Arab culture, and modern urban life.
Zhang also invited more visitors from Arab countries to explore China’s modern cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, as well as the natural beauty and diverse ethnic cultures of Xinjiang. He emphasized that the fair provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen exchanges and called on China and the GCC to jointly develop new travel routes, experiences, and products.
Ahmed Mohammed, executive board member of the International Council of Museums, said the fair represents an important step in deepening cultural and tourism ties between China and the GCC. He expressed hope for continued cooperation to build bridges of understanding, creativity, and prosperity.
In early June, China introduced a trial policy granting unilateral visa-free entry for citizens of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain, allowing stays of up to 30 days from June 9, 2025, to June 8, 2026. With this move, China extended visa-free access to all GCC countries. The UAE and Qatar had already implemented reciprocal visa-free policies with China since 2018.