The European Union has unveiled plans to introduce a Schengen visa scheme for citizens of Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Bahrain, valid for a period of five years. This initiative aims to streamline travel procedures and foster closer ties between the EU and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.
EU Head of Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, announced the decision during the inaugural session of the first high-level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation between the EU and GCC in Luxembourg. Borrell welcomed the move, emphasizing the harmonization of visa regulations for GCC citizens by the European Commission.
Under the new regulations, citizens of all GCC countries requiring visas to visit the Schengen Region will benefit from standardized visa procedures. This development marks a significant advancement in EU-Gulf relations.
Previously, citizens of the United Arab Emirates enjoyed visa-free travel to the Schengen Region, with a permitted stay of up to three months, while Qatari citizens were required to obtain visas. In 2022, the EU announced plans to extend visa-free travel privileges to citizens of Kuwait and Qatar.
The introduction of a ‘cascade’ visa system in Kuwait last September allowed eligible applicants, including tourists, to obtain five-year visas. The Schengen region, encompassing 29 European countries, was recently expanded to include Bulgaria and Romania, resulting in the removal of air and maritime border controls.
Before this decision by the European Union, residents of the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia were exempted from pre-entry visa requirements for the UK. In a related development, Gulf countries revealed intentions to implement an integrated tourist visa akin to the Schengen permit, aimed at facilitating travel for both residents and tourists.
