Arab countries could soon have 'Schengen style' visa-free travel for their citizens

The Arab Organization for Tourism (ATO) on Wednesday revealed plans to issue a card for Arab tourists to travel between Arab countries freely without their passports.

The initiative was introduced in a speech delivered by Bandar Al-Fahid, President of the ATO at the end of the Second Arab Forum for Tourism Security.

The meeting was organised by the Council of Arab Interior Ministers to bring them together to discuss a wider pan-Arab policy across the countries.

It is currently unclear which countries would qualify for this initiative and how it will affect Arab refugees from war-torn countries.

The Schengen visa policy allows nationals of certain countries to enter the Schengen Area via air, land, or sea without a visa for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Participating countries are able to travel with an identification document that is not necessarily a passport.