Expatriates living in Bahrain could soon be able to use only their national identity cards to travel within the GCC, said a top official.

GCC citizens can currently pass through airports in their own countries using national identity cards when travelling between the six member states.

The plan is to roll that out to other nationalities in the future.

"We are studying a plan to make the services available to expatriate residents in Bahrain in the near future," said Interior Ministry assistant under-secretary for nationality, passports and residence affairs Shaikh Ahmed bin Isa Al Khalifa.

An "e-gate" facility was launched at arrival and departure gates at Bahrain International Airport in 2008 to reduce check-in time for Bahrainis travelling in the GCC.

The plan is to link e-gate systems in all GCC countries, meaning passengers will not need their passports when travelling between them. – TradeArabia News Service