GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi expects progress toward starting a Schengen visa-waiver process for five Gulf countries at the EU–GCC summit scheduled in Riyadh on 24 October, Arab News reported on 9 October.
His comments concerned Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait. The UAE already has a short-stay arrangement with the European Union.
Expected progress, not an implemented waiver
The report describes an anticipated announcement about beginning a process. It does not announce a new visa exemption taking effect for Saudi travellers or provide an implementation date.
Travellers should check official requirements before making plans. Al-Budaiwi also indicated that a GCC–EU free-trade agreement was unlikely to be concluded at this summit.
Source: Arab News interview, 9 October 2026. Image: source report photograph.
