Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior, represented by the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), and the UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to implement the ‘One Stop’ air travel system between the two countries.
The agreement was signed in Abu Dhabi by Bahrain’s Interior Ministry Ports, Search and Follow-up Assistant Under-Secretary Brigadier Abdulaziz Abdulrahman Al Doseri and UAE Air Ports Affairs Sector Executive Director Dr Hamad Saif Al Mashghouni, in the presence of officials from both sides.
The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation to implement the project and facilitate the exchange of travellers’ pre-entry data in accordance with information security and data protection protocols. It also supports the integration of electronic systems to improve operational efficiency and passenger services.
The ‘One Stop’ project allows travellers to complete all required travel and entry procedures at a single point before departure, eliminating the need for repeated inspection procedures upon arrival. The initiative is expected to reduce processing time at the destination airport and improve passenger movement.
The agreement follows the approval of the ‘One Stop’ initiative by the GCC Interior Ministers during their 42nd meeting held in Kuwait last year. The project forms part of a wider GCC plan to improve regional connectivity and streamline travel between member states.
Bahrain and the UAE were selected to implement the first phase of the initiative, which was launched on February 16, 2026. The pilot currently applies to citizens travelling on Gulf Air and Etihad Airways flights between Bahrain International Airport and Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi.
Officials from both countries said the initiative supports Gulf cooperation, strengthens port operations, enhances security and facilitates passenger movement between the two countries.
