Pakistan, Saudi sign agreement to abolish visa requirements for official, diplomatic passports holders

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to eliminate visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, official, and special passports, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced. The agreement was signed in New York during the UN General Assembly, as reported on X. Dar expressed optimism that this move would "further facilitate high-level engagement and institutional exchanges, and contribute to advancing our enduring and brotherly strategic partnership across all areas of mutual interest".

The two nations maintain strong bilateral relations, with regular high-level diplomatic interactions. In August, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, along with Turkey, signed a joint defense pact aimed at enhancing security, cooperation, and stability in the region and globally. Additionally, the nations committed to increasing Pakistani agricultural and food exports to Saudi Arabia to $3 billion.

The agreement followed a visit by a Saudi delegation led by Environment, Water and Agriculture Minister Engineer Abdulrahman Al-Fadley. In July, Saudi Arabia introduced a multiple-entry Umrah visa valid for one year, allowing pilgrims to visit the kingdom multiple times with a total stay of up to 90 days annually. In 2024, Riyadh also relaxed tourist visa rules for Pakistani visitors, requiring only a bank statement showing a minimum monthly credit of $750 or its equivalent.