Oman had already been providing this facility to Saudi citizens since 2005.
The new move follows a resolution taken by the GCC Supreme Council to help citizens find jobs in the region and facilitate easy movement between member countries.
The ministers of labor and social affairs in GCC countries had also approved a series of resolutions to give their citizens freedom of work, residence and movement in member countries.
In 1993, the Supreme Council of GCC leaders passed a regulation saying all GCC citizens working in the private sector should be treated equally in accordance with an executive bylaw. All GCC countries agreed to implement this decision. The executive office of the GCC ministers of labor and social affairs is currently following up on commitments to provide more employment opportunities for GCC citizens in member countries. It also provides information about job opportunities in GCC states. With employment of GCC citizens in member countries being an issue of strategic importance, the office reports to the Supreme Council on ongoing developments in the region and informs GCC leaders about current obstacles they are facing.
The office also encourages public and private sectors in member countries to employ GCC citizens instead of workers from outside the region. The GCC Consultative Council has also urged member countries to give priority to GCC citizens in the labor market and cut the number of expatriate workers.
It has also advised GCC governments to involve the private sector in plans to nationalize jobs.
The council also wants to increase the cost of employing expatriates in order to discourage private companies from giving them jobs.
It has instructed the office of the GCC ministers of labor and social affairs to make job opportunities in member countries available to GCC citizens only.
