Five Gulf nations pursue Schengen visa waiver: What travellers should know

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.

Also read: A record 1.15 million Indians applied for Schengen visas in 2025 — here's where they want to go

What would a Schengen visa waiver actually change?

The Schengen area comprises 29 European countries, including most EU member states, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Its common short-stay rules generally allow visitors to spend up to 90 days in any 180 days across the area.

At present, travellers from countries that require a Schengen visa must generally apply before departure, provide supporting documents and await a decision. A waiver would remove that advance visa requirement for eligible nationals travelling for permitted short visits, including tourism, family visits and certain business activities.

It would not, however, provide an automatic right to work, settle or study long-term in Europe. Nor would it cover every European destination: Ireland is outside the Schengen area, while Cyprus operates separate visa arrangements.

Why the UAE is already ahead?

The United Arab Emirates has an advantage the other five GCC countries are seeking: eligible Emirati passport holders already enjoy visa-free short stays in the Schengen area, subject to the 90-day limit.

Kuwait has also seen progress, although of a different kind. In 2023, the European Commission introduced more favourable multiple-entry Schengen visa rules for Kuwaiti nationals. These visas make repeat travel easier, but travellers still need a visa.

Also read: All you need to know as an Indian traveller about the UAE's five-year multiple-entry tourist visa rules

The distinction matters because visa-free access is determined by nationality and passport eligibility, not simply by where someone lives. An Indian citizen working in Dubai cannot use the exemption available to eligible UAE nationals.

Who gains, and who remains outside the deal?

The immediate beneficiaries of a successful waiver would be eligible citizens of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. Families planning holidays, entrepreneurs attending meetings and professionals travelling for short business visits could benefit from fewer application formalities and greater flexibility.

European tourism and businesses could gain, too, through easier movement between two economically connected regions.

But the proposal would not automatically extend to foreign residents of the Gulf. Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Filipino passport holders would generally remain subject to the visa rules applicable to their nationality, unless they qualify for a separate exemption.

For example, an Indian engineer based in Riyadh would still generally need a Schengen visa for a holiday in Paris, even if Saudi citizens eventually secure visa-free access. The same principle applies to an Indian professional living in Muscat or Doha.

What should Indian expatriates expect?

For India's large expatriate community in the Gulf, the most important point is that a GCC-wide visa waiver for citizens would not be a visa waiver for all Gulf residents.

There could be indirect advantages. Easier travel for Gulf-based employers, clients and business partners could support cross-border meetings, trade and professional networking. Yet Indian passport holders should not assume that their own application requirements, fees or processing procedures will change as a result.

A multiple-entry visa is also not the same as visa-free travel. It allows eligible holders to make repeated visits during the visa's validity, subject to its conditions, but does not remove the requirement to obtain a visa.

The decision is still ahead

The Riyadh summit could give the initiative fresh momentum, but the proposed waiver should not be treated as a concluded agreement. Formal negotiations, approval procedures and implementation arrangements would still need to be addressed.

Until official changes are announced, the UAE remains the only GCC country among the six whose eligible citizens enjoy the established Schengen visa exemption. For the other five, the prospect is promising, but the practical benefit will depend on the final terms and timing. For Indian expatriates, existing visa requirements remain the rule unless a separate exemption applies.