Saudi Arabia to Host Second EU-GCC Summit on October 24 as Strategic Ties Grow

The second meeting between the heads of state and government of the 27 members of the European Union and 6 members of the GCC will take place in Riyadh on October 24, 2026, at the offices of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for Expatriates in Saudi Arabia.

The summit builds on the first-ever EU-GCC leaders’ meeting in October 2024 in Brussels. The agenda demonstrates the increasing level of cooperation in the realms of trade, energy transition, digital connections, regional security and investment between Europe and the Gulf.

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Trade and Investment at the Centre

Cooperation in the economic field is expected to be key. The bilateral trade in goods and services between the EU-GCC is more than EUR 250 billion a year, and the European foreign direct investment stocks in the GCC have topped EUR 160 billion a year.

Gulf investments in Europe are also at over €180 billion. The amounts reflect the economic linkages and opportunities for further business interaction between the regions.

Green Hydrogen and Clean Energy Corridors

Another key agenda item before the Riyadh summit is clean energy. Long-Term Cooperations will be studied by Gulf producers and European partners, in the areas of green hydrogen exports, subsea electricity network, and clean technology.

The talks might help cement the windstorm of renewable energy resources in the Gulf and Europe’s growing clean-energy needs. The cooperation would also complement broader efforts on the part of partners to build energy infrastructure that connects other regions.

Schengen Visa Waiver in Focus

Travel facilitation will be an important topic for GCC citizens. A summit to fast-track visa exemptions for Gulf nationalities is a main priority will be to accelerate the process towards full Schengen visa exemptions for nationals of the Gulf countries.

The new bill follows previous multi-year visa concessions with Saudi, Qatari and Emirati visitors. An improvement in the way people can travel would benefit people to people, investment flows and business between Europe and the Gulf.

Centralized IoT and Red Sea Security

Digital connectivity will also be covered in the summit from subsea telecommunications and data corridors, such as the proposed East to Med route. Improving the digital connection could help to strengthen technology and commercial ties between both regions.

Another major element will be regional security, especially security in the Red Sea, will come to the fore. A coordinated security system can be helpful in securing the main trade routes and international supply chains between Europe and Asia.

Digital Infrastructure and Red Sea Security

In terms of opportunities, for Gulf firms the summit in Riyadh might offer a chance for new business and relations in the form of joint ventures, technology collaboration, renewable energy initiatives and logistics coordination. Riyadh continues to be a hot choice for European firms to set up a presence in the region as part of Saudi Arabia’s Regional Headquarters initiative.

The meeting was consequently more than a diplomatic one. It may become a venue to realize EU-GCC cooperation into real commercial and infrastructure projects.

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