The need for nationals of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman to apply for a visa to Macau is to be dropped from July, according to Monday’s Official Gazette.
The new rule comes into effect 30 days from Monday’s publication date, according to a Chief Executive Order, dated June 5.
The announcement said the move was under power granted by Article 50 of the Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region, though didn’t give further information on the reason for the step.
Macau has been seeking for several years to diversify its sources of tourism beyond its dependence on the Chinese mainland, and is also seeking to develop medical tourism as an economic activity.
The city has also regulated the possibility of permitting – for its six casino operators and upon them applying for it – a rebate on the 40 percent tax on casino gross gaming revenue, if such play is generated by players from overseas.
In the first four months of 2025, Macau welcomed nearly 12.96 million visitors, 12.9-percent higher than in the prior-year period. About 7.0 percent of the tally, or 912,456 visitors, were from international markets, according to official data.
