The Gulf Cooperation Council's secretary-general stated that Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar are very close to starting the official Schengen visa-waiver process. Positive outcomes are anticipated ahead of the GCC-EU summit in Riyadh on October 24, 2026. The UAE remains the only GCC member whose citizens currently hold visa-free short-stay access to the Schengen area.
The 57th GCC Industrial Cooperation Committee convened in Manama to discuss regional industrial integration and supply chain connectivity. During the meeting, member states endorsed the GCC General Secretariat's participation in the eighth China-Arab States Expo scheduled for August 2027. Delegates also highlighted the importance of strengthening manufacturing and supply chain linkages between Gulf economies and China.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia signed a preliminary bilateral agreement in Riyadh to establish cross-border railway connections and advance energy cooperation. The pact establishes a framework for feasibility studies on integrating rail freight networks and facilitating cross-border logistics. The initiative also covers bilateral electricity interconnection and commercial cross-border power trading.
Saudi developer ACWA Power has signed a strategic partnership framework with Prolos China to explore renewable energy investments across China. The initiative focuses on centralized wind power, photovoltaic solar installations, and energy storage assets. The agreement supports ACWA Power's broader target of deploying $30 billion in China by 2030 across green power, desalination, and green hydrogen.
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