Riyadh - Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Council of Ministers approved the mutual visa exemption agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Spain, thus culminating the process of bilateral cooperation between the two countries, months after the initial signing of this document in the Spanish capital, Madrid.

Diplomatic, special and service passports are covered by the agreement

The agreement stipulates that holders of diplomatic, special and service passports are exempted from the requirements for obtaining a prior visa to enter the territories of the two countries, in a step aimed at facilitating the movement of officials, diplomats and official delegations, and enhancing institutional communication between government agencies in Riyadh and Madrid. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albarez previously confirmed that bilateral relations are experiencing their best moments ever, expressing his country’s commitment to continuing to enhance cooperation with the Kingdom, which he described as a pivotal trading partner in the Middle East region.

Spain confirms its supportive position for Saudi Arabia and its strategic partnerships
The signing of the agreement came in a broader context of strengthening relations between the two countries, as a memorandum of understanding was signed in Madrid last May to establish the “Saudi-Spanish Strategic Partnership Council”, to be an institutional framework for cooperation in the files of security, defence, investment, energy, infrastructure and culture. The Spanish side expressed its solidarity with the Kingdom, and appreciated the Saudi efforts aimed at achieving regional stability in the Gulf and the Middle East.

The benefit of the agreement extends from diplomacy to broader horizons

Although the exemption is limited to holders of diplomatic, private, and service passports in its current stage, this agreement reflects the depth of the growing political and economic rapprochement between Riyadh and Madrid, and opens the door to broader horizons for cooperation in tourism and investment files. It is also considered a first step that may pave the way for expanding the scope of exemptions to include broader categories of travelers, especially with the growing tourism and investment movement between the two countries, and in light of global economic challenges, bilateral cooperation in the energy, trade, and infrastructure sectors remains an essential pillar for promoting common interests between the Kingdom. And Spain.