China Grants Visa-Free Entry to Saudi, Gulf Citizens in One-Year Pilot Program
Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: China has announced a landmark visa-free travel policy for citizens of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain, allowing entry for up to 30 days under a one-year trial period beginning June 9, 2025. The initiative, reported by the official Xinhua news agency, was confirmed by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Under the new policy, passport holders from the four Gulf nations will be permitted to enter China for purposes including business, tourism, family visits, cultural exchanges, and transit. The visa exemption will remain in effect until June 8, 2026.
With this move, China now extends visa-free access to all member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), following the implementation of similar reciprocal arrangements with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar since 2018.
“We welcome more friends from the GCC countries to embark on an impromptu trip to China,” Mao said, underscoring Beijing’s commitment to deepening ties with Gulf nations.
The latest measure follows the introduction of the Approved Destination Status (ADS) agreement between China and Saudi Arabia, which came into effect on July 1, 2024. That agreement enabled group tourism between the two countries and marked a significant milestone in bilateral travel facilitation.
China’s visa-free initiative is viewed as a strategic step in reinforcing its diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties with the Kingdom and the wider Gulf region. It also supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objective of attracting 5 million Chinese tourists annually by the end of the decade.
Beyond tourism, the Kingdom and China maintain a robust trade relationship, with Saudi Arabia standing as China’s largest trading partner within the GCC. The growing bilateral cooperation continues to play a central role in broader regional connectivity and economic diversification efforts.
