Schengen Visa Waiver for Five Gulf Nations Expected to Move Forward at EU-GCC Summit

A major announcement on starting the process to waive Schengen visa requirements for Gulf citizens is expected at the second EU-GCC Summit in Riyadh on October 24, 2026. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi said visa-free travel for citizens of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait is “very close.” He made the remarks on the Arab Views podcast.

Currently, only the UAE has a visa-free arrangement with the EU for short stays in the Schengen Area. Al-Budaiwi said the five remaining GCC countries are close to reaching the beginning of the process, and that the summit should bring positive news. This is the start of a process, not an immediate waiver, so visa requirements remain in place for now.

The summit is unlikely to produce a GCC-EU Free Trade Agreement, however. Al-Budaiwi said years of past negotiations never reached a conclusion. He added that the EU is insisting on extra provisions, including human rights clauses, which the GCC believes should be removed. By contrast, the Gulf bloc signed a trade deal with the UK earlier this year.

Note: The announcement is an expectation voiced by an official ahead of the summit, so details and timelines remain unconfirmed.