Schengen visa rules relaxed for citizens of three Arab countries

Hibapress
Saudi, Omani and Bahraini citizens can now benefit from multiple-entry Schengen visas lasting five years, the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Christophe Farnaud, announced Thursday in Riyadh.
This decision by the European Commission to make it easier for citizens of the three countries to travel to Europe is “an important step in promoting people-to-people contacts and facilitating trade between the countries of the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (CCG),” said the European diplomat in a statement to the press.
This change comes in the context of “strategic relations” between the two regions, he said, noting that Europe was also working on the implementation of electronic visas.
The 29 European countries of the Schengen area, including 25 EU member states, can start implementing this decision now, “unless there is a technical reason which requires them to wait a few days,” assured Mr. Farnaud.