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Policy & Legal Updates

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.

China–UAE News

Mubadala Prioritises Asia and China Expansion Alongside UAE Tech and Logistics Projects

Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala plans to maintain an annual investment scale of 39 billion US dollars, targeting expanded asset allocation in China, South Korea, India, and Japan. Simultaneously, the UAE and Qatar have launched major commercial and technology initiatives, including a 1.8 billion AED expansion at Dubai CommerCity and preparations for Doha to host the World Investment Forum.

China–UAE News

US and China Compete for AI and Cloud Infrastructure Across the Gulf

Chinese technology investments in the Gulf Arab states are increasingly intersecting with American technology footprints, particularly across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. While China supplies cloud services, 5G networks, and smart-city systems, the US provides advanced graphics processing units and leading foundation models. Both regional governments are simultaneously pursuing sovereign computing capabilities while balancing partnerships across both ecosystems.

Policy & Legal Updates

Five GCC Nations Close to Starting Schengen Visa Exemption Process, Official Says

GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi stated that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait are close to beginning the official process for Schengen visa-free travel. A formal announcement is expected at the second EU-GCC Summit in Riyadh on October 24. Currently, the UAE is the only GCC member state whose citizens can travel to the Schengen Area without a visa.