{
  "id": 13163458,
  "title": "Five Gulf states ‘very close’ to starting Schengen visa-waiver process",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/five-gulf-states-very-close-to-starting-schengen-visa-waiver-process",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-09T16:53:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/five-gulf-states-very-close-to-starting-schengen-visa-waiver-process-1.500705003"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Five Gulf nations are on the verge of initiating the process to grant their citizens visa-free access to the Schengen area, according to Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The five countries—Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar—are \"very close\" to commencing procedures that could lead to the elimination of Schengen visa requirements. This development is anticipated to be announced during a forthcoming meeting between Gulf and European leaders in Riyadh later this month.",
  "summary": "Dubai: Five Gulf countries are close to beginning the process that could eventually give their citizens visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen area, according to the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi said Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar are “very close” to the start of procedures that could lead to the removal of Schengen visa requirements,…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}