Pakistan and Saudi Arabia abolish visa requirements for diplomatic and official passport holders to facilitate high-level travel and official exchanges.
NEW YORK: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to abolish visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official or special passports, in a move aimed at facilitating high-level travel and strengthening institutional engagement between the two countries.
The agreement was signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on the sidelines of the 2026 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York.
Announcing the development, Dar said he was pleased to sign the agreement with his Saudi counterpart, describing the arrangement as an important step towards facilitating official engagement between Islamabad and Riyadh.
“I signed today with my brother, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Agreement between Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the abolition of visa requirements for holders of Diplomatic and Official/Special Passport,” Dar said in a post on X.
He said the agreement would facilitate high-level engagement and institutional exchanges while contributing to the advancement of the two countries’ “enduring and brotherly strategic partnership” across areas of mutual interest.
Under the agreement, Pakistani citizens holding diplomatic and official passports will be able to travel to Saudi Arabia without obtaining a visa. Similarly, eligible Saudi passport holders will be able to travel to Pakistan without a visa, subject to the terms and conditions of the accord.
Visa-free travel to facilitate official engagement
The visa waiver is expected to streamline official travel between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia by reducing administrative procedures for eligible diplomatic and government officials.
The arrangement is also aimed at facilitating more frequent interaction between government institutions, supporting high-level consultations and strengthening official exchanges between Islamabad and Riyadh.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia seek stronger economic ties
The visa agreement comes as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia continue efforts to expand their economic, political and strategic relationship.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said last month that Pakistan sought to transform its economic relationship with Saudi Arabia into a mutually beneficial strategic economic partnership.
His remarks came during a meeting with a high-level Saudi business delegation led by Prince Mansour bin Mohammad Al Saud, chairman of the Saudi-Pak Joint Business Council.
The Saudi delegation discussed potential investment opportunities in several sectors, including agriculture, ports, highways, airport outsourcing, real estate, energy, power distribution and information technology.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia expand security cooperation
The two countries have also expanded cooperation in security and defence.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August, establishing a framework for closer collective security cooperation.
The Strategic Political and Defence Committee established under the agreement subsequently held its inaugural meeting in Istanbul on August 31, where the three countries agreed to institutionalise cooperation under the new framework.
Visa waiver strengthens bilateral exchanges
The latest arrangement provides an additional mechanism for facilitating official travel between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as the two countries broaden cooperation across diplomatic, economic, investment and security sectors.
By removing visa requirements for eligible diplomatic and official or special passport holders, the agreement is expected to make high-level visits and institutional exchanges more straightforward.
The development represents another step in efforts by Islamabad and Riyadh to strengthen their longstanding bilateral relationship and expand cooperation across areas of mutual interest.