For citizens of five Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, a European holiday or business trip could eventually involve less paperwork. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar are pursuing a possible visa waiver that would allow eligible passport holders to visit Europe's Schengen area without applying for a short-stay visa in advance.
The discussions are taking place against the backdrop of closer EU-GCC engagement. The second EU-GCC summit is scheduled for October 24, 2026, in Riyadh, creating an opportunity to advance discussions on travel and wider cooperation. However, a summit or move towards formal negotiations does not mean that visa-free entry has been approved or that implementation will begin immediately.
