EU Is Working to Facilitate Visa-Free Travelling for Saudi Arabia Citizens, Ambassador Says
In addition, the ambassador has revealed that a new plan that aims at facilitating the visa process for Saudi citizens to be granted multiple visas is in the making and will soon be announced, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.
“[The EU] aims to exempt citizens of all GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries from visa requirements, and this commitment was clearly stated in the joint statement on the European Union’s strategic partnership with the Gulf states,” ambassador Simonnet said in his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat.
Simonnet also noted that visa exemption would help in improving the level of exchange between the EU and Saudi Arabia in many fields such as communication, tourism, education, and business.
Last month, the Head of the Visa Policy Section for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission, Dimitri Giotakos, met with the Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, Waleed bin Abdul Karim Al Khuraji, with whom discussed facilitating the entry for Saudi Arabians to travel to Europe.
The agreement is soon to be finalised, but there hasn’t been a specific date on when the visa exemption of Saudi Arabia citizens would take effect.
In addition, the visa facilitation process is expected to receive support from the European Council, which has reportedly positioned itself in supporting the negotiations for wavering Schengen visa requirements for citizens of Gulf countries.
“An enhanced and deep cooperation between the EU and the Gulf partners is a key priority for the European Union and a shared interest in view of addressing a series of global and regional challenges jointly with our Gulf partners,” the statement of the authority explains.
In April 2022, authorities in Saudi Arabia revealed that all people who hold a Schengen visa would be allowed to perform umrah – the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, without being required to obtain a specific visa from Saudi Arabia beforehand.
The decision was made public soon after authorities in Saudi Arabia announced they decided to impose the visa-on-arrival scheme for all those who are holders of a Schengen Visa.
