In accordance with the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) Interior Ministers’ decision at their 42nd meeting, which took place in the State of Kuwait on November 12, 2025, to approve the first phase of the “Single Travel Point” air system between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, the GCC General Secretariat formally launched the service at Bahrain International Airport on Tuesday, February 17 (BNA). This marked the start of the GCC project’s first phase.
Bahrain, UAE launch “Single Travel Point” air initiative
Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director General of the UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security; GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi; and Lieutenant General Adel bin Khalifa Al Fadhel, Deputy Minister of the Interior, attended the launch ceremony.
The Deputy Minister of Interior emphasized that the Kingdom of Bahrain’s excellent relations with its other GCC members are the reason behind the start of the first phase of the “Single Travel Point” aviation project. In order to create a smart and integrated mobility system that improves border security and the traveler experience, he emphasized the strategic route toward Gulf integration.
According to Lt. Gen. Al Fadhel, the initiative offers a cutting-edge operating model that allows travelers to finish their procedures ahead of time in the nation of departure, speeding up transit operations, cutting down on wait times, and improving the efficient flow of traffic at ports of entry. He pointed out that the Kingdom of Bahrain’s dedication to implementing cutting-edge digital solutions and utilizing the newest technology to boost operational effectiveness and service quality is reflected in this project.
The Single Travel Point project, according to Maj. Gen. Al Khaili, is one of the creative projects demonstrating the GCC states’ dedication to easing passenger journeys and offering a smooth and safe travel experience. He emphasized the Authority’s desire to use electronic connectivity and the implementation of cutting-edge technology and applications for data processing and sharing in order to fortify collaboration and partnerships with strategic partners at the local, regional, and international levels.
By converting both nations’ airports into important departure hubs that promote travel and tourism and support economic activity, he continued, the initiative will help to increase tourism and intra-regional trade between the two countries in particular, as well as among GCC states generally. In turn, this creates new opportunities for economic and developmental collaboration, integrates security and customs, makes both airports more competitive both locally and internationally, and establishes them as the region’s preferred transit hubs for tourists.
The first phase of Bahrain International Airport’s “Single Travel Point” processes were explained to the officials earlier on Tuesday. Citizens of both nations are covered by the phase, which enables all travel processes to be completed at a single location without requiring repeated inspections at various control points.
Later, the project will be extended to GCC nationals and residents in both nations, bringing about a significant improvement in the way travel processes are completed, saving time and effort, and improving the flow of movement, especially during busy times.
As a preliminary step at the GCC level, the two parties had previously carried out pilot procedures on Etihad Airways and Gulf Air flights for citizens of both nations arriving from Bahrain and Abu Dhabi between December 2025 and January 2026. This emphasizes that, within the framework of strategic Gulf integration to create an intelligent, integrated mobility system, the ties of fraternity and the long-standing historical ties among GCC states continue to serve as a strong basis for coordinated Gulf action in all areas of cooperation and coordination.
