The major source of revenue of the nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has been oil and gas. Nevertheless, the instability in the demand and prices of oil made the government and the policy makers of the GCC region to diversify their economy, thus recognizing tourism has as a new direction for economic improvement. Despite the extensive research conducted in exploring the impact of tourism globally, there are limited studies that have looked at the tourism sector from the GCC perspective. This article provides insights into the current challenges and opportunities the GCC region being experienced in the process of developing a promising hospitality and tourism sector. This article further delves into the tourism strategies of the GCC countries, with a view to analyzing the strategic initiatives and identifying the implemented mega-projects. Tourism in the GCC is distinct and diverse in terms of cultural heritage attributes, amenities and infrastructure. This paper explores how attributes of tourism center such as cultural heritage and infrastructure development contribute to the evolution of tourism in the GCC region.