Five Gulf Nations Pursue Schengen Visa Waiver Ahead of Riyadh EU-GCC Summit

Five Gulf Cooperation Council states are seeking a Schengen visa exemption for their citizens ahead of an upcoming bilateral summit in Riyadh. The Economic Times reports that the discussions apply exclusively to national passport holders rather than foreign residents living in the Gulf. The United Arab Emirates currently remains the only GCC member country with established visa-free Schengen access.

Published October 13, 2026 Source: The Economic Times

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Issuing authority: European Union, Gulf Cooperation Council
Jurisdiction: GCC
Publication date: October 13, 2026
Stage: Draft / consultation
Official source: news.google.com

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Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar are pursuing a potential visa waiver agreement that would permit eligible citizens to visit Europe's Schengen area without securing short-stay visas in advance, according to The Economic Times.

The discussions are taking place amid heightened diplomatic engagement between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union, with the second EU-GCC summit scheduled to take place on October 24, 2026, in Riyadh.

The Economic Times highlighted that the proposed waiver would apply strictly to national citizens of the five Gulf countries. Foreign expatriates holding Gulf residence permits—including the millions of Indian nationals residing in the region—will not gain visa-free European entry under the proposal and must continue observing standard visa application requirements.

Until any formal bilateral agreement is finalized and implemented, the United Arab Emirates remains the only GCC member state whose citizens benefit from an established Schengen visa waiver. The source emphasized that the initiative remains subject to formal negotiations, regulatory approvals, and procedural arrangements before any policy takes effect.