China announced this week the launch of a unilateral visa-free entry pilot program for citizens of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain, expanding the list of countries eligible for visa-free entry to 47, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.
Under the new policy, valid until June 8, 2026, holders of ordinary passports from these four Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for purposes including business, tourism, family visits, cultural exchanges, and transit.
Since 2018, citizens of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have benefited from mutual visa exemption agreements with China, meaning all six GCC member states now enjoy visa-free access to China.
The policy expansion has been warmly received across the Gulf region and is expected to strengthen bilateral ties, boost cultural exchanges, and inject new momentum into broader cooperation between China and the GCC.
Following China’s announcement in late May, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on social media platform X, welcoming the move as a boost to mutual visits and friendship between the two peoples.
Abdulla Alblooshi, a popular travel influencer from the UAE, praised the policy in a social media video, calling it “a great benefit for Gulf tourists” and highlighting that “now you only need a passport to visit China.”
Naif Olaya, Tourism and Cooperation Director at Diriyah Company in Saudi Arabia, described the initiative as a positive step forward, emphasizing that “friendly relations are the foundation for long-term cooperation” and expressing hope for deepening partnerships with China.
Kanoo Travel, one of the largest travel agencies in the Gulf and a pioneer in promoting outbound tourism to China, has already launched new travel packages targeting residents of the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.
Kanoo Travel’s Acting CEO, Harvey Lines, called the new visa-free policy a “gateway to expanding Sino-Arab cooperation” and reiterated the agency’s commitment to fostering closer cultural exchanges between China, the Gulf region, and the wider Arab world.
China and Gulf countries currently enjoy strong air connectivity, with around 20 weekly direct flights linking major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen with Saudi cities Riyadh and Jeddah. The UAE has direct flights to 13 cities across mainland China.
Looking ahead, Hainan Airlines plans to launch a direct route between Haikou and Jeddah on June 28, while Emirates will begin daily flights between Dubai and Shenzhen starting July 1.
Analysts say the new policy reflects deepening political, economic, and cultural ties between China and the Gulf region. In 2024, China’s trade volume with GCC countries reached US$288.09 billion, making the GCC China’s sixth-largest trading partner.
Wen Shaobiao, a Middle East researcher at Shanghai International Studies University, noted that visa-free entry would significantly reduce travel time costs and promote large-scale two-way flows of people.
“This will encourage cultural exchange and academic cooperation, while also facilitating trade, investment, and joint projects, meeting business community expectations,” Wen said.
The move highlights China’s ongoing efforts to welcome global tourists and fulfill its commitment to high-level openness.
Since the end of 2023, China has implemented a series of policies easing visitor entry. From June 1, holders of ordinary passports from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay have enjoyed unilateral visa-free entry—marking the policy’s first extension to Latin America and the Caribbean.
Additionally, the visa-free transit period has been extended to 240 hours for travelers from 54 countries.
These measures have already yielded significant results. In 2024, the number of visitors entering China under unilateral visa-free policies reached 3.39 million, a 1,200% increase year-on-year. During the recent three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, 231,000 foreigners entered China visa-free, up 59.4% compared to the previous year.
Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, said foreign visitors come not only to see scenic spots and cities but also to experience daily life, adding, “These visits provide them with the opportunity to explore the real China.”
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