Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Wednesday that China will pilot a visa-free entry policy for passport holders from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain starting June 9, 2025, and running through June 8, 2026.
During a regular press briefing, Mao detailed the new initiative, explaining that citizens from these four Gulf nations traveling to China for purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, or transit will be eligible for visa-free entry for stays of up to 30 days.
This move expands China’s unilateral visa-waiver program, which already includes the United Arab Emirates and Qatar—countries with reciprocal visa-free agreements since 2018. With this update, all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members now benefit from China’s visa-free treatment.
Mao welcomed Gulf residents to take advantage of the policy, encouraging them to “embark on an impromptu trip to China.”
