Türkiye, Saudi Arabia Approve Visa-Free Travel — But Not for Regular Passport Holders

Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have approved a reciprocal visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and special passport holders, easing official travel between the two countries. Saudi Arabia's Cabinet approved the agreement in Riyadh on Tuesday, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Türkiye had already approved it in June, with the presidential decision published in the Official Gazette on June 13.

Who Actually Qualifies

Under the arrangement, holders of diplomatic and special passports can enter, transit through, leave, and temporarily stay in the other country without a visa, for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The exemption does not cover ordinary passport holders, who remain subject to standard visa requirements. Türkiye's embassy in Riyadh said the agreement's effective date would be announced separately.

Origins of the Deal

The agreement was originally signed on May 6 in Ankara by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, alongside the third meeting of the Türkiye-Saudi Arabia Coordination Council, which also reviewed cooperation in trade, energy, defence, education, culture, tourism, and transportation.

Part of a Broader Relationship

Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $8.5 billion by the end of 2025. In March, a joint committee agreed to a work plan covering 22 initiatives across finance, mining, technology, agriculture, transport, and infrastructure.

The Defence Angle

The visa deal comes as Türkiye and Saudi Arabia deepen security cooperation with Pakistan. On August 7, the three countries signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, under which an armed attack against one signatory is treated as an attack against all three. Their defence chiefs met in Riyadh on September 25 to discuss intelligence cooperation, military coordination, and capability integration.