- Albudaiwi said five Gulf states are nearing the start of a process that could eventually remove Schengen visa requirements.
- The October 24 summit in Riyadh may bring a positive announcement, but no visa-free access has been approved.
- Citizens of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait still need Schengen visas for ordinary short visits.
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said five Gulf states were close to starting a process that could eventually remove Schengen visa requirements. He pointed to the October 24, 2026, summit in Riyadh as a possible moment for a positive announcement. No visa-free access has been approved.
The countries are Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait. The United Arab Emirates is the only GCC member whose citizens already have visa-free access to the Schengen Area for eligible short stays.
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Albudaiwi made the remarks on October 9, describing the potential decision as the beginning of a process. He did not announce an agreement, an implementation timetable or a date when travelers could go without visas. The summit is scheduled to be the second meeting between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
He spoke with Faisal J. Abbas, editor-in-chief of Arab News and host of its Arab Views podcast. Albudaiwi said:
“We are very close to reaching the beginning of the process to waive the Schengen visa for GCC citizens, for the five countries, the five remaining countries. So, inshallah, in that summit, you will hear something positive about that.”
He also described the summit's expected agenda:
“On Oct. 24, we will have the second EU-GCC summit coming, with many deliverables. We are expecting that we will reach many things.”
The remarks point to a potential first step, not an immediate change at European borders. The wording is central to understanding what travelers can expect after the meeting.
A summit announcement would begin, not complete, the waiver process
A political declaration in Riyadh would not, by itself, grant visa-free entry. The European Union would still need to assess the proposal, negotiate its terms and complete the required legal steps.
Those steps can include an assessment by the European Commission and formal adoption of a proposal. The European Parliament would be involved, and the Council would need to approve the measure. Implementation could also require arrangements on border security, migration and readmission.
No final legal agreement or timetable has been announced. Any eventual visa exemption would be limited in scope, rather than permission to live or work in Europe.
The expected category is short visits, normally capped at 90 days in any 180-day period. That would not mean unrestricted access or permission to take up employment or residence. A Schengen-area waiver also would not automatically cover travel to the United Kingdom or Ireland.
Existing visa concessions still require travelers to hold a visa
The five countries have received different forms of visa facilitation. The arrangements make repeat travel easier for eligible applicants, but none removes the requirement to obtain a visa.
| Travelers | Existing arrangement |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman | Eligible for five-year, multiple-entry Schengen visas since April 2024 |
| Kuwait and Qatar | More favorable multiple-entry arrangements since 2023 |
| Kuwait and Qatar | The European Commission proposed moving them to the visa-exempt list in 2022; the proposal has not become an implemented waiver |
A multiple-entry visa permits repeat trips within its terms, but it is still a visa. The 2022 proposal for Kuwait and Qatar remains in the EU legislative process, rather than taking effect as visa-free access.
The five countries remain outside the EU's visa-exempt list
As of October 10, 2026, citizens of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait still need a valid Schengen visa for ordinary short visits. The October summit may launch negotiations or formal procedures, but it cannot alone change the rules travelers face.
Albudaiwi's statement did not set an effective date. Passport conditions, border requirements and the permitted length of a future visa-free stay would depend on the final EU decision.
Human-rights conditions remain a point of political disagreement
Visa liberalization has featured in broader EU-GCC cooperation, and Albudaiwi has pressed the EU to speed up discussions. Debate in the European Parliament has also raised possible human-rights conditions.
European officials have sought provisions related to human rights, while Gulf governments have opposed adding those conditions to the waiver process. That disagreement is among the political issues surrounding the talks.
Until EU rules change, travelers from the five states must continue applying for Schengen visas. The October 24 summit could mark the start of formal procedures, but a positive announcement would not itself provide visa-free travel.
