KUWAIT CITY, March 13: Jassem Al- Budaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), disclosed plans to negotiate with the European Union in Brussels during the second week of Ramadan to exempt Gulf citizens from the Schengen visa requirement, reports Al- Jarida daily. Al-Budaiwi highlighted the strong case the Gulf countries have for this exemption and expressed confidence in achieving it soon.

He pointed out the approval of the unified Gulf visa during the 44th Doha Summit, enabling visitors to access all six GCC countries. European ambassadors to Kuwait voiced their governments’ support for exempting Kuwaitis from Schengen visas, foreseeing enhanced trade, cultural exchange, and investment opportunities between the GCC and Europe.

Al-Budaiwi emphasized the positive impact of Gulf citizens’ presence in Europe across various sectors and reiterated the necessity of visa exemption given their contributions and stable relationships. European ambassadors affirmed their countries’ readiness to support efforts toward visa exemption, recognizing its potential to bolster bilateral ties and stimulate diverse exchanges between Europe and the GCC.