EU Backs Schengen Visa Waiver Process for Five Gulf States

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar have taken a further step towards possible visa-free travel to the Schengen Area. On 19 October 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted conclusions supporting a visa waiver process for each of the five countries.

The development follows earlier comments from GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, who said the countries were close to beginning the process and expected positive news around the EU-GCC summit in Riyadh.

EU Support Comes With Conditions

The Council’s conclusions welcome the European Commission’s intention to launch the process, with the Council and EU member states involved at every stage.

However, lifting visa requirements will only be considered once each country has fully met the required benchmarks. The conclusions provide political support for the process, without granting an exemption or setting a date for visa-free travel.

For travellers, the existing visa requirements remain in place.

Who Would Benefit From a Schengen Visa Waiver

A future exemption would concern citizens of the five countries. Foreign nationals living there would continue to follow the rules attached to their own nationality. Holding a Gulf residence permit, including a Golden Visa, would not by itself provide visa-free Schengen access.

The UAE already has a short-stay visa waiver agreement with the EU, applied provisionally since May 2015.

Under the usual Schengen short-stay framework, visa-exempt visitors can stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This does not provide a right to settle or take up employment in Europe.

What Travellers Should Know Now

For citizens who frequently visit Europe for business or leisure, a future waiver could reduce the paperwork involved in planning short trips.

For now, the practical position remains the same. Travellers who require a Schengen visa must continue to obtain one before departure. Further decisions are needed before any exemption can take effect, and the five countries may progress at different speeds.

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