Kuwait has been ranked at the bottom among Gulf countries in the Global Tourist Visa Openness Index for 2023, according to a report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The index evaluates the ease of obtaining tourist visas, with Kuwait scoring 12.96 points, the lowest in the region. In contrast, the UAE secured the top spot among Gulf nations with 67.80 points, followed by Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. The index rates countries on a scale of 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating easier visa acquisition processes. The report highlights progress in visa facilitation in the Middle East, noting a decrease in the percentage of travelers requiring traditional visas from 71% in 2015 to 57% in 2023. Moreover, electronic visa availability increased from 10% to 15%, and visa-on-arrival availability rose from 17% to 24% during the same period.

Furthermore, the rate of mutual visa exemption among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states surged from 2% in 2018 to 87% in 2023. It’s important to note that the report’s methodology focuses solely on measures applicable to temporary visitors (tourists) holding ordinary passports.