Saudi Arabia and Turkey signed an agreement on Wednesday, allowing holders of diplomatic and special passports to travel between the two countries without visas. The deal was signed by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan after the third meeting of the Saudi-Turkish Coordination Council in the Turkish capital of Ankara.
The Saudi-Turkish Coordination Council was established in 2016 to provide a platform for cooperation and consultation to strengthen relations across different areas. The first meeting was held in Ankara in 2017, while the second meeting was in Riyadh in 2025.
According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the officials assessed the bilateral relations between the countries, discussed recent regional developments, and explored initiatives to maintain security and stability in the region. They analysed ways to improve the teamwork between both nations in different sectors and on matters of key importance.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that the meeting reflected the growing and advanced relations between the Saudi and Turkish governments, while highlighting both nations’ commitment to increasing coordination and cooperation across all fields.
The leaders emphasised the importance of using their countries’ capabilities and resources to attain mutual benefits and tighten their partnership.
The Saudi Minister also met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace in Ankara. They reportedly discussed the relationship between the two countries and examined opportunities to expand the cooperation between Turkey and Saudi Arabia. They also reviewed measures to ensure regional security, stability, and shared interests.
Turkey and Saudi Arabia have been taking steps to foster stronger bilateral relations since 2020, after a brief period of tensions following the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkey subsequently dropped its accusations of Saudi state involvement in Khashoggi’s killing and both sides have continued to rebuild diplomatic and economic relations.
