Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud sign the visa liberalization agreement in Ankara, May 6, 2026. AA Photo
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met in Ankara on Wednesday for the third meeting of the Turkish-Saudi Coordination Council, where the two sides also signed a reciprocal visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic and special passports, according to Daily Sabah reported.
The agreement, officially titled “Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic and Special Passports,” was signed following the council meeting, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.
Fidan held talks with a Saudi delegation led by Bin Farhan in the Turkish capital as part of the council, which serves as a platform for coordination and cooperation between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia on bilateral and regional issues.
In a statement shared on Turkish social media platform NSosyal, Fidan said the meeting was held with the participation of relevant ministries and institutions from both countries.
He said the sides reviewed committee work in strategic areas such as trade, energy, defense, education, culture, tourism and transportation, while addressing bilateral ties within an institutional framework.
Fidan also said the talks covered regional issues, particularly the situation in Gaza, and the two countries signed an agreement on the reciprocal exemption of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and special passports.
The Turkish foreign minister thanked his Saudi counterpart and the accompanying delegation for their visit, expressing hope that the agreements reached would bring benefits to both countries.
The Turkish-Saudi Coordination Council was established in 2016 and held its first meeting in Ankara in 2017. The second meeting was held in May 2025 in Riyadh. The council is comprised of five subcommittees, including the committees on politics, diplomacy, military and security, culture, sports, media, tourism, social development, health, education, commerce, industry, investment, infrastructure and energy.
Bilateral ties between Turkey and Saudi Arabia have flourished in recent years, and the two countries have also enhanced cooperation in multilateral platforms. As for economic ties, bilateral trade volume rose to $8.5 billion as of the end of 2025.