Visa-free travel to Saudi on the cards for Bahrain, GCC residents?

TDT | Manama           

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Visa-free travel to Saudi Arabia might soon become a reality for the residents of Gulf Cooperation Council nations. The new scheme, not yet officially declared, will be for citizens visiting Saudi for business, tourism and Umrah, reports say.

Business news portal Trends, quoting unnamed Tourism Ministry sources, said that a draft law is ready for the new scheme, and people could expect an official declaration in a few days, Gulf News reports.

The report further says that visa-free travel will be for all GCC residents with a valid resident and work visa issued by the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatari immigration authorities. The scheme reportedly allows expatriates with residency and work visas to enter Saudi Arabia for business, tourism and Umrah, except for Hajj.

It, however, also hints at exceptions for maid or construction workers' visas. Those who are professionals, white-collar workers, and other residents with regular income are likely to get visa-free entry to Saudi Arabia, adds Gulf News.

The news also comes on the heels of an announcement last week by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb during a TV interview that Saudi Arabia will soon introduce a new visa scheme for GCC residents.

He stressed that the tourist visas launched by the Kingdom in 2019 still exist and there were no specific restrictions for those coming for tourism.