Qatar has published updated guidance detailing entry rules for dependents under the GCC Resident Visa (A2) framework. Holders can include children under 18 if they hold GCC residency, while non-resident minors require separate tourist or ETA visas. Spouses holding GCC residence permits must apply independently and cannot be added to a partner's application.
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.
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.
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.
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