GASTAT: GCC Citizens’ Entry into Kingdom Rises 5.83% Last Year Compared to 2023

The entry of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) citizens into the Kingdom increased by 5.83% in 2024 compared to 2023, with total arrivals reaching approximately 8.8 million, matching the number of departures, according to the 2024 Gulf Common Market Indicators Report issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

 The results showed that the number of GCC students enrolled in public higher education institutions reached 988, while total enrollment in public general education amounted to 5,036, reflecting the extent of GCC citizens’ participation across various levels of education in the Kingdom. The report also indicated that the number of companies whose shares GCC citizens are allowed to trade in the Kingdom reached 247, equal to the total number of joint-stock companies listed on the Saudi stock market, with a combined capital of around SAR850 billion, underscoring the full openness of the Saudi stock market to GCC citizens.

 The report highlights the importance of facilitating the free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor among GCC member states, in line with the GCC’s objectives of enhancing cooperation and integration across economic, social, and legislative fields.

 The 2024 Gulf Common Market Indicators were based on administrative data issued by national entities in the Kingdom, including the ministries of education, health, justice, and human resources and social development, as well as Saudi Tadawul Group and the Saudi Central Bank. The data was collected and analyzed according to rigorous methodologies and high-quality standards to ensure the reliability of the indicators and support joint economic policymaking among GCC states.