Turkey and Saudi Arabia are set to scrap visa requirements for their citizens as part of a new agreement expected to be signed during high-level talks in Ankara, according to a Turkish diplomatic source.
The deal is due to be finalized during a meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, who will co-chair a session of the Turkey-Saudi Coordination Council.
The agreement is expected to apply to holders of both ordinary and diplomatic passports, the source said.
The move marks a further step in the steady improvement of relations between Ankara and Riyadh, which were severely strained following the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkey had previously accused senior Saudi officials of orchestrating the killing.
Since 2020, both countries have taken steps to repair ties, with relations improving significantly from 2021 after Turkey dropped its accusations of Saudi state involvement and pursued broader diplomatic efforts to rebuild partnerships in the region.
During the talks, Fidan is also expected to reiterate Turkey’s position on regional issues, including its support for “regional ownership” in addressing Middle East challenges and its intention to continue contributing to efforts aimed at ending the war in Iran.
He is also expected to stress that developments around the Strait of Hormuz should not lead to “new tensions and provocations,” according to the source.
