India and Saudi Arabia Signed Visa Waiver Agreement to Facilitate Official Travel
In December 2025, India and Saudi Arabia (SA) signed a bilateral Visa Waiver Agreement (VWA) in Riyadh to facilitate official travels and strengthen bilateral exchanges under the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) in Riyadh, SA.
Signatories: The agreement was signed by Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan and Abdulmajeed bin Rashed Alsmari, Deputy Minister for Protocol Affairs at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
In December 2025, India and Saudi Arabia (SA) signed a bilateral Visa Waiver Agreement (VWA) in Riyadh to facilitate official travels and strengthen bilateral exchanges under the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) in Riyadh, SA.
Signatories: The agreement was signed by Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan and Abdulmajeed bin Rashed Alsmari, Deputy Minister for Protocol Affairs at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
- What? Bilateral Visa Waiver Agreement signed
- Countries: India and Saudi Arabia
- By Whom? Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan (India) & Abdulmajeed bin Rashed Alsmari (Saudi Arabia)
- Objective: To facilitate official travel and boost bilateral cooperation under the Strategic Partnership Council.
About Visa Waiver Agreement:
Visa Agreement: Provides mutual exemption from short-stay visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports, streamlining official travel.
Limitation: The waiver does not apply to ordinary passport holders, tourists, or business travelers.
Strategic Council: The SPC is a high-level mechanism to deepen bilateral collaboration across defence, energy, investments, and cultural exchange.
Economic Ties: India is Saudi Arabia’s second-largest trading partner, after China, and Saudi Arabia is India’s fifth-largest partner, with bilateral trade reaching USD 39.9 billion in 2024.
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