Beijing: China will allow visa-free entry for travelers from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain for up to 30 days, starting June 9, 2025, in a one-year trial, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced the decision, stating that passport holders from these countries can visit for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, or transit without needing a visa.
With this move, China extends visa-free access to all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, having already implemented reciprocal agreements with the UAE and Qatar since 2018.
“We welcome more friends from GCC countries to embark on an impromptu trip to China,” Mao said during a press briefing.
This policy follows Saudi Arabia's acquisition of Approved Destination Status from China in July 2024, which enabled group tourism between the two nations.
The visa-free initiative marks another milestone in strengthening China-GCC relations. Saudi Arabia aims to attract 5 million Chinese tourists annually by 2030 under its Vision 2030 goals.
The two nations also maintain robust trade ties, with Saudi Arabia being China’s largest trading partner in the Gulf region.
