Schengen: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman seek visa-free travel to Europe says GCC secretary general

Citizens of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the whole GCC are working towards visa-free travel to Europe and exemption from Schengen border rules, according to GCC secretary general Jasem Albudaiwi.

The GCC official told television reporters he will travel to Brussels, Belgium next week to make a case for the visa waiver.

If successful, citizens of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman will be able to visit 27 European countries, including Germany, France, Italy and Spain, without needing the Schengen visa.

UAE, Saudi and GCC countries seek Schengen visa waiver

Speaking on Saudi Television Channel 1, Albudaiwi said GCC countries deserve exemption from the visa, adding that the bloc has a strong case.

He said: “During negotiations in Brussels with the leaders of the European Union, which is scheduled to begin in the second week of Ramadan, I will speak, on behalf of the GCC states, to exempt the Gulf citizens from the regime of Schengen visa.

“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.

He told the Saudi TV station: “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.