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GCC Schengen waiver: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman pursue visa-free travel to Europe

GCC is in negotiations with EU to secure a Schengen visa waiver for citizens of UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman

by Staff Writer
Schengen area

Gulf citizens are pursuing a Schengen visa waiver as they seek unrestricted travel to Europe.

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi met in the Belgian capital, Brussels, with the Special Representative of the European Union (EU) for the Gulf region Luigi Di Maio.

During the meeting, they discussed the GCC-European bilateral relations, including issues related to the visa waiver process for GCC citizens in the Schengen area.

GCC Schengen visa-waiver

Additionally, views were exchanged on various regional and international bilateral issues, according to the GCC General Secretariat.

The Secretary General said that the GCC countries look forward to strengthening cooperation between the GCC member states and the EU to support and enhance stability and development in the region and the world.

In television interviews earlier this month, Albudaiwi said GCC countries deserve exemption from the visa, adding that the bloc has a strong case.

He said: “We have a strong file to obtain the exemption, and God willing, we will celebrate this year by obtaining the exemption for the first time”.

He added that Gulf citizens are a positive presence in Europe, with beneficial trade and contributions to education, tourism and more.

GCC UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait Qatar

Albudaiwi said: “We are stable countries and export whatever is positive. We don’t export anything negative. It is odd we have not been exempted from this visa. We deserve to be exempted from this visa.”

A Schengen visa is an entry permit for a short, temporary visit of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

A Schengen visa can be obtained in the form of a single-entry visa, allowing the holder to enter the area once, or a multiple-entry visa, which is granted for several visits to the area for as long as it is valid.

Schengen area countries

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Czech Republic
  • Croatia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
Schengen Visa
Schengen visas are essential for citizens from non-EU countries. Image: Shutterstock

Residents of these countries require a Schengen area visa to visit the countries in the region

  • Afghanistan
  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Belarus
  • Belize
  • Benin
  • Bhutan
  • Bolivia
  • Botswana
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cabo Verde
  • Cambodia
  • Cameroon
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • China
  • Comoros
  • Cote D’ivoire
  • Cuba
  • Dem. Rep. Of Congo
  • Djibouti
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Egypt
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Eswatini
  • Ethiopia
  • Fiji
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Guyana
  • Haiti
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Jamaica
  • Jordan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kenya
  • Kosovo
  • Kuwait
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Laos
  • Lebanon
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Maldives
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Mongolia
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Myanmar
  • Namibia
  • Nepal
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • North Korea
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Palestine
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Qatar
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Russia
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • South Sudan
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sudan
  • Suriname
  • Syria
  • São Tomé and Príncipe
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania
  • Thailand
  • Togo
  • Tonga
  • Tunisia
  • Turkmenistan
  • Türkiye
  • Uganda
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vanuatu
  • Vietnam
  • Yemen
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

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