Global EditionASIA 中文雙語Fran?ais
    World
    Home / World / Middle East

    GCC citizens hail China's visa-free plan

    Policy expected to boost trade relations and 'people diplomacy' with Gulf states

    By JAN YUMUL in Hong Kong | China Daily Global | Updated: 2025-06-10 09:19
    Share
    Share - WeChat
    Foreign internet influencers visit the Wukang Road area in Shanghai, May 27, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Fatima Ahmed was returning to Bahrain from the ITB Shanghai tourism trade event in May when China announced it had extended its visa-free policy to four more Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC, countries, including hers.

    She said she was optimistic this would open boundless opportunities for the Gulf nation.

    Ahmed, managing director at Ibn Firnas Travel and Tourism in Bahrain, told China Daily that her company is doing well in the Chinese market with a "decent clientele "from Shanghai and Guangzhou.

    "So the news of the free visa for the Bahrainis to go to China was very well received by everybody."

    On May 28, China announced it was extending its visa-free policy to four GCC countries — a policy it first extended to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in 2018.

    From June 9, passport holders from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman will enjoy the same privilege, which now covers the entire GCC region.

    China's inbound tourism has maintained a strong momentum in recent years.

    In 2024, about 132 million inbound tourists visited China, with total spending reaching $94.2 billion, recovering to 97.2 percent and 93.5 percent of the 2019 levels, respectively, Xinhua News Agency reported in May.

    Jehad Amin, president of the Association of Bahrain Travel and Tour Agents, or ABTTA, told China Daily that the news could change the industry.

    China is a very popular destination, Amin said, adding it is not a destination that you need to market a lot.

    "The ABTTA is in continuous talks with airlines to have accessible ticket rates for travelers, which is to also protect travel segments that range from five-star hotels to three-star accommodations.

    "It's a matter of finding the right formula that will encourage tourists to go and visit because China is very big," he said, noting there is a lot to see and many cities to visit.

    Khaled A Mahdi, a former secretary-general of Kuwait's Supreme Council for Planning and Development, said the decision could not have been better timed.

    After recently setting up Nexus Global Advisory in Kuwait, Mahdi is planning to visit China before the end of the year.

    He said his consultancy focuses on building relationships with Chinese businesses and helping them operate in the GCC.

    "I see it coming naturally in the way things are escalating to the positive side in the relationship and the bridges between China and the GCC countries," Mahdi told China Daily.

    "I have to say this is a very smart move. This is a genius move, honestly, given the geopolitical situation … I can see this move is very effective. It actually contributes more to what I call 'people diplomacy'. And it will reflect positively on what I see right now around the world," Mahdi said.

    Removing barriers

    He said this latest development would not only remove barriers but also add value for businesses, adding he expects more airlines to consider China as a destination.

    Peggy Li, managing partner at SPS Affinity, a service-centric global strategy and communications consultancy based in Dubai, UAE, said she would "very much encourage the ideas of doing more exchange programs" with the younger generation beyond the commercial perspective.

    Li noted that the GCC countries have a large proportion of youngsters among their populations, adding that each has its own different priorities and directives.

    The International Statistical Institute World Statistics Congress 2025 noted that over 50 percent of local populations were under 25.

    Umer Karim, an associate fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, told China Daily that Beijing's enhanced visa policy decision showed "the political, economic, and strategic significance of the region in China's broader statecraft".

    "But also this shows how the Chinese government wants to increasingly become a key market for Vision 2030-related collaborations and investments," said Karim, referring to the Saudi government's economic diversification plan.

    "Well, it's great timing, really. China is going the right way by opening up, by making it easier for people to visit China and to visit a member of BRICS," said Jasim Husain, a former member of the Bahrain parliament.

    "China is a leading member of BRICS, so people can see the other major economies of the world," Husain said.

    Most Viewed in 24 Hours
    Top
    BACK TO THE TOP
    English
    Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
    License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

    Registration Number: 130349
    FOLLOW US
    无码丰满熟妇juliaann与黑人| 精品一区二区无码AV| 国产精品无码一区二区在线观一 | 中文字幕国产视频| 精品无人区无码乱码毛片国产| 韩国19禁无遮挡啪啪无码网站| 色欲狠狠躁天天躁无码中文字幕| 免费A级毛片无码视频| 亚洲国产午夜中文字幕精品黄网站 | 久久久久亚洲AV无码麻豆| 在线天堂资源www在线中文| 在线天堂中文WWW官网| 久久久久久国产精品无码下载| 亚洲AV无码专区国产乱码电影 | 亚洲av中文无码乱人伦在线播放 | 久久亚洲AV无码精品色午夜| 中文字幕日韩精品无码内射| 免费一区二区无码视频在线播放 | 亚洲啪啪AV无码片| 中文字幕精品一区影音先锋| 国产亚洲中文日本不卡二区| 人妻少妇看A偷人无码精品| 国产av无码专区亚洲av桃花庵 | 无码人妻久久一区二区三区| 精品国产V无码大片在线看| 亚洲国产日韩欧美在线a乱码日本中文字幕高清 | 国产成人无码免费看片软件| 无码人妻精品一区二区在线视频 | 毛片无码免费无码播放| 亚洲日韩国产二区无码| 熟妇女人妻丰满少妇中文字幕| 色综合天天综合中文网| 无码人妻少妇久久中文字幕蜜桃| 亚洲一区无码精品色| 无码专区一va亚洲v专区在线| 国产精品无码专区| AV无码一区二区大桥未久| 99久久精品无码一区二区毛片 | 久久久久久久久无码精品亚洲日韩| 亚洲成AV人片在线观看无码 | 国产亚洲精品a在线无码|