EU opens door to Schengen visa-free travel for five Gulf countries, step could benefit French exporters

The Council of the European Union on 19 October adopted five separate ‘conclusions’ inviting the European Commission to begin technical talks on abolishing short-stay (Schengen) visa requirements for nationals of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. The move—reported by La Presse de Tunisie on 21 October—signals the start of a formal evaluation that will scrutinise each state’s passport security, border-management capacities and migration-risk profile. While no timeline is fixed, Gulf diplomats say Brussels hopes to wrap up assessments before the end of 2027. If successful, citizens of the five countries would join the United Arab Emirates as the only Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members whose nationals can enter the Schengen area, including France, visa-free for up to 90 days per 180-day period. For France, the business case is clear. The Gulf is already a top market for luxury retail, defence and renewable-energy contracts; French customs data show €13 billion in goods exports to the five states in 2025. Removing the current €80 visa fee and documentation hurdles would make short-notice deal-making—and attendance at trade fairs such as VivaTech in Paris—far easier for Gulf executives. It would also simplify crew rotations for Qatar Airways’ heavy Paris CDG schedule and logistics staff supporting the Saudi giga-projects that use French engineering. However, immigration counsel caution that exemption is not guaranteed. The EU will insist on “strict reciprocity”, data-sharing agreements and anti-overstay safeguards. Moreover, political headwinds in the European Parliament could slow legislative approval, especially amid wider debates on migration management after recent unrest in France. Companies with Gulf clients should therefore continue budgeting for Schengen visa lead-times while monitoring briefing notes expected from the French Interior Ministry early next year.