Jassim Al-Badawi: GCC Citizens to Be Exempted from Schengen Visa 'Very Soon'

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi announced that the process of waiving visa requirements for GCC nationals who are still subject to Schengen visa obligations is nearing completion, anticipating progress on the file during the GCC-EU summit scheduled in Riyadh on the 24th.

Speaking in a special episode of the “Arabs in Focus” podcast, Al-Budaiwi stated that visa-free travel arrangements for citizens of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait are “very close,” while the United Arab Emirates remains the only GCC state currently enjoying a visa-free travel agreement with the European Union for short stays in the Schengen area. He expected a major announcement regarding the launch of the waiver process during the upcoming GCC-EU summit.

Al-Budaiwi added, “We are very close to reaching the beginning of the Schengen visa waiver process for the citizens of the six GCC states, for the remaining five countries, and God willing, at that summit, you will hear something positive on this matter.”

Regarding the free trade agreement between the GCC and the European Union, Al-Budaiwi noted that free trade negotiations with Brussels have continued for years without results, clarifying that “the European side insists on adding certain aspects to the agreement,” including provisions related to human rights, which the GCC believes should be removed.