RIYADH: In a significant move to cut through bureaucratic procedures, Saudi Arabia and India have signed a bilateral visa waiver agreement, with both countries agreeing on mutual short-stay visa exemptions to facilitate official travel and boost bilateral exchanges.

Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Suhel Ajaz Khan and Abdulmajeed bin Rashed Alsmari, the deputy minister for protocol affairs at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed the agreement — the latter on behalf of Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan — at the ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh on Wednesday.

“The agreement will facilitate official travel and boost bilateral exchanges under the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council,” Khan told Arab News.

The agreement provides mutual exemption from short-stay visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports from both countries.

It signifies a step forward in bilateral relations, making official travel easier for government, diplomatic and special envoys, and reflects the growing trust and cooperation between the two countries.

The deal is expected to streamline the movement of officials between the Kingdom and India and strengthen cooperation across various sectors under the strategic partnership framework established between the countries.