China grants visa-free entry to citizens of four GCC states, including Kuwait
United Arab Emirates and Qatar were granted similar exemptions in 2018
The Chinese Embassy in Kuwait has announced that, starting June 9, 2025, China will implement a visa-free entry policy for holders of ordinary passports from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Bahrain. The policy will remain in effect for one year, until June 8, 2026.
A statement issued by the embassy on its official X account, quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed that citizens of these four Gulf nations will be allowed to enter China without a visa and stay for up to 30 days for purposes including tourism, business, family visits, cultural exchanges, and transit, according to Al-Jarida daily.
With this move, China extends its visa-free travel policy to all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar were granted similar exemptions in 2018.
The decision reflects China’s commitment to strengthening ties with the Gulf region and enhancing people-to-people connectivity and economic cooperation.
