In a major move to further open its doors to global tourism and business, China has announced that it will grant visa-free access to four additional Middle Eastern countries.
Starting from June 9, 2025, until June 8, 2026, citizens from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia holding ordinary passports will be able to visit China for business, tourism, family visits, cultural exchanges, or transit for up to 30 days without needing a visa.
Earlier this May, the Chinese government also declared that nationals from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay would be granted similar privileges.
This brings the total number of countries with which China has a one-sided visa exemption to 45.
The move comes as part of China's broader strategy to enhance its international relationships and boost tourism and trade.
READ MORE: 5 Latin American Countries Granted Visa-Free Travel to China
Importantly, this expansion strengthens the ties between China and the Arab nations of the Persian Gulf.
Along with the UAE and Qatar, which already have visa exemptions in place, all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries can now enter China without a visa.
This makes China even more accessible for both leisure and business travelers from the region.
Notably, direct flight routes connecting China and these nations are abundant.
Cities like Dubai and Doha serve as major hubs for connecting flights to Chinese cities, with Bahrain also adding new routes through Bahrain International Airport.
Screenshot by That's
This influx of visitors from the Gulf region was already visible as a group of influencers and digital content creators from the Middle East arrived in Shanghai in late May.
Organized by the UAE Embassy and the Chinese Cultural Center in the UAE, the 10-day trip saw the group visit major Chinese cities like Shanghai, Suzhou, Huzhou, and Beijing, sparking substantial attention on Chinese social media platforms.
Screenshot by That's
The newly announced visa exemption is expected to bring more Middle Eastern tourists and business professionals to China, offering a peek into the growing economic and cultural exchanges between the two regions.
It remains to be seen whether this trend will continue as the world adapts to evolving travel policies.
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[Cover image by Billy Jiang/That's]
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