Citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will now enjoy full access to comprehensive healthcare services across all member states, whether residing or visiting, the GCC Secretariat-General announced this week.
According to the new framework, all Gulf citizens visiting any GCC nation—comprising the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman—are entitled to medical care based on the duration of their stay. Visitors staying up to three months will be eligible for primary healthcare, emergency and ambulance services, and hospitalisation for critical conditions until the end of the emergency period.
For citizens residing in another GCC country for more than three months, access expands to include all health services provided by government hospitals and health centres. To qualify, residents must hold valid residency status and present either a property ownership or lease contract.
The announcement came during a meeting of GCC health ministers, where Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi highlighted the bloc’s progress in healthcare integration. He revealed that more than 204,000 Gulf citizens benefited from public medical services in GCC countries outside their home nations in 2023.
“This reflects the implementation of the principle of equal treatment among all GCC citizens,” Albudaiwi said, noting that the region’s health infrastructure continues to strengthen. “The total number of hospitals in GCC countries has exceeded 863, while the number of health centres and complexes now stands at over 3,400.”
The GCC’s unified healthcare approach aligns with its broader vision of fostering a shared “Gulf homeland,” where citizens receive equivalent rights and benefits across member states. The initiative underscores ongoing efforts to enhance regional integration in areas such as health, education, employment, and social protection.
In the United Arab Emirates, for example, GCC nationals working in the private sector already enjoy equal treatment to Emirati citizens in terms of employment rights and insurance coverage. This equality is guaranteed under Cabinet Resolution No. 72/5 of 2007. However, the regulation does not alter the Emiratisation quotas that reserve specific employment opportunities for UAE nationals.
Health officials across the region have welcomed the move as a step toward deepening cooperation and ensuring equitable access to essential services for all Gulf citizens. The new policy reinforces the GCC’s long-term goal of providing seamless healthcare across borders—reflecting the union’s vision of shared prosperity, unity, and well-being for its people.
