Turkey and Saudi Arabia sign visa exemption deal for diplomatic passport holders

The agreement was reached during the third Turkey-Saudi Coordination Council meeting, which also addressed Gaza and bilateral cooperation

Turkey and Saudi Arabia have signed a mutual visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic and special passports, marking a significant step in the deepening partnership between Ankara and Riyadh.

According to Turkish newspaper Yeni Şafak, the agreement was signed during the third Turkey-Saudi Coordination Council meeting in Ankara on Wednesday. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud led the discussions.

The visa waiver is expected to ease high-level travel between the two countries and foster closer state-to-state engagement.

Cooperation across key sectors

The two delegations reviewed joint working groups in critical fields including trade, defence, energy, tourism, education, and transportation. In a post on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, Fidan highlighted that the talks reaffirmed both countries' commitment to an institutional framework for managing bilateral affairs.

Fidan expressed gratitude to the Saudi delegation for their visit, stating that the agreements reached would bring mutual benefits.

Gaza and regional stability

Beyond bilateral ties, the ministers addressed the volatile situation in Gaza, reflecting a shared concern over regional stability. The discussions underscored continued rapprochement between Ankara and Riyadh, building on previous high-level exchanges and economic cooperation deals.

Outlook for the partnership

Analysts view the latest coordination council meeting as a step toward deeper Turkish-Saudi alignment amid shifting Middle Eastern dynamics. Both nations have signalled intent to expand collaboration beyond traditional sectors, with energy and defence emerging as key pillars of the renewed partnership.