Schengen visa waiver for Gulf citizens near, GCC chief says

Schengen visa rules for five Gulf states could soon ease, the GCC chief said, with an announcement expected at the EU-GCC summit in Riyadh.

Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said visa-free travel to Europe for citizens of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait is “very close.” He made the remarks on the Arab Views podcast, recorded in Manama, ahead of the summit on Oct 24.

He said the bloc was “very close to reaching the beginning of the process” to waive the requirement. The summit, he added, would bring positive news on the issue.

Who needs a Schengen visa now

At present, the United Arab Emirates is the only Gulf state whose citizens can visit the Schengen Area for short stays without a visa. Nationals of the other five members still need a valid Schengen visa to enter.

Even so, the EU has already eased some rules. For instance, Schengen countries now offer multiple-entry visas with validity of up to five years to citizens of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain.

The upcoming meeting in Riyadh will be the second summit between the two blocs. Their leaders first met in Brussels. There, they affirmed that they would keep working toward a safe visa-free arrangement. They also agreed to bring more Gulf students and academics into the Erasmus programme.

Al-Budaiwi has pushed the case for some time. Speaking in Nicosia in April, he urged the EU to speed up talks on a visa waiver for Gulf citizens. At the same event, he called for a transport and energy corridor linking the Gulf with Europe. Such a route, he said, would avoid vulnerable sea lanes. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides welcomed the ideas, while European Council President Antonio Costa asked the Commission to find projects that could move quickly. Still, insiders warned that human rights conditions in the European Parliament could delay any vote on a visa waiver.

Trade deal still distant

A free trade deal with Brussels, however, looks out of reach for now. Earlier this year, the GCC signed such a deal with the United Kingdom.

Talks with the EU have run for many years without success, Al-Budaiwi said. “Now we have to start something new with the EU,” he added. According to him, the European side insists on adding certain clauses, including on human rights. The Gulf states, however, want those removed.

He recorded the interview on the sidelines of the Made in GCC 2026 Forum and Exhibition in Bahrain. That event showcased products made in the Gulf along with new industrial technology.

During the podcast, Al-Budaiwi also spoke about relations with Iran and the position of the GCC on the fighting in Yemen. He also answered whether Gulf states would send troops against the Houthis. In addition, he rejected claims that internal rifts had divided the bloc since the war with Iran began seven months ago.

A waiver would make travel to Europe far simpler for millions of Gulf citizens. For now, all eyes are on Riyadh, where the Schengen visa question will top the list of expected results.