Travellers From Gulf States Still Need Schengen Visas as EU Opens Review

The Council of the European Union has put off any immediate Schengen visa exemption for citizens of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. It says any move to visa-free travel must first meet technical, security and legal conditions set by the EU, so travellers from these five countries still need visas for short stays.

Key facts

• 19 October 2026: the Council of the European Union adopted five sets of official conclusions launching a visa-exemption process for the five Gulf states.
• Affected nationalities: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.
• Status: the decision is not final approval of visa-free travel and does not authorise immediate implementation.
• Timetable: no binding date has been announced for any exemption to take effect.
• Current rule: existing Schengen visa requirements remain applicable.

What is changing?

According to European Union documents, the new process is intended to move the discussion past politics and into the technical and regulatory procedures needed to assess the proposed exemption. EU institutions and member states are to take part throughout the various stages.

Any potential exemption remains subject to an assessment of EU requirements, including security considerations, border management and relevant technical standards, as well as the completion of the necessary legislative and legal procedures.

When do the new rules start?

No binding timetable has been announced for a potential exemption to enter into force. Until a final European decision changes their legal status, citizens of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain must continue to obtain visas under existing procedures.

Launching the process for all five countries at the same time does not mean they will receive visa exemptions at the same time. The Council said progress will depend on each country's compliance with the specified requirements.

Who is affected?

The five Gulf states named in the Council conclusions are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. The United Arab Emirates remains the only Gulf country whose citizens already have visa-free travel to the Schengen Area for short stays, under an agreement that entered into force in May 2015.

The issue matters to businesspeople, students and other visitors, given the scale of trade, investment and tourism between the two regions.

Why is this happening?

On 9 October 2026, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said during an interview with Arab Views, a programme produced by Arab News, that GCC countries were approaching the launch of the visa-exemption process. He anticipated positive developments during the second GCC–EU summit in Riyadh.

The European Union maintains that the required assessments and procedures must be completed before any exemption can be implemented, in line with its common framework for border management and mobility.

What this means for travellers

Citizens of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain planning short stays in the Schengen Area must still apply for a visa through current procedures. The EU says visa-free travel, if formally approved, could facilitate mobility, strengthen economic and tourism ties and reduce the administrative procedures and costs associated with short-stay visas.

Travellers from the five countries should check whether a final European decision has changed their status before making plans, and watch for further announcements from the Council of the European Union and the second GCC–EU summit in Riyadh.