Five Gulf countries are approaching an important step that may facilitate their citizens' travel to Europe, with expectations of progress in exempting citizens of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait from the Schengen visa, opening the door to greater flexibility in travel, tourism, education, and business.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi revealed that the five Gulf countries still requiring a visa to enter the Schengen area are close to starting the necessary exemption procedures. He pointed to expectations of positive developments being announced during the second summit between the European Union and the GCC, which was scheduled to be hosted in Riyadh on October 24, 2026, but has been postponed, with a new date to be announced later.
Travel facilities and benefits for Gulf citizens
Implementing the exemption, if approved and its procedures completed, would ease the administrative and financial burdens associated with visa applications, saving travelers the time and effort required to prepare applications and wait for approvals.
It could also give Gulf citizens greater flexibility in planning tourist trips and family visits, as well as facilitate travel to attend international conferences, exhibitions, and business meetings. This supports opportunities to connect with European markets and benefit from global experiences and expertise.
This may also reflect positively on students wishing to visit European universities and educational institutions, and on professionals and entrepreneurs seeking to expand their international relations and partnerships, while visa requirements for long-term study, work, and residency remain subject to applicable rules.
A step to strengthen Gulf-European relations
The potential progress in the visa file represents an opportunity to enhance tourism, cultural, and economic exchange between the GCC countries and the European Union. It may also contribute to stimulating travel and increasing cooperation opportunities between companies and institutions on both sides.
This step comes within the framework of efforts aimed at developing Gulf-European relations and facilitating communication between the peoples of the region, which supports common interests and opens broader horizons for cooperation in the fields of tourism, education, investment, and business.
Will visa-free travel become available?
Despite the positive indicators, the expected announcement relates to starting the procedural path toward exemption, not the immediate implementation of visa-free travel. Until the official steps are completed and the new rules and their effective date are announced, citizens of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait still need to comply with current Schengen visa requirements.
It is noteworthy that the United Arab Emirates is the only Gulf country whose citizens already enjoy the ability to travel to the Schengen area for short stays without a visa.
