Türkiye's 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, during which the two sides also signed a reciprocal visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic and special passports.

The agreement, officially titled “Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Türkiye 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, The Caspian Post reports, citing Turkish media.

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 the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, Fidan said the meeting was held with the participation of relevant ministries and institutions from both countries.

He noted that the sides reviewed the work of committees in strategic areas such as trade, energy, defense, education, culture, tourism, and transportation, while also addressing bilateral relations within an institutional framework.

Fidan also stated that the discussions included regional developments, particularly the situation in Gaza, and confirmed that the two countries signed the agreement on the reciprocal exemption of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and special passports.

The Turkish foreign minister expressed gratitude to his Saudi counterpart and the accompanying delegation for their visit, voicing hope that the agreements reached would benefit both countries.

The Turkish-Saudi Coordination Council was established in 2016 and held its first meeting in Ankara in 2017. The second meeting took place in May 2025 in Riyadh. The council consists of five subcommittees, covering political, diplomatic, military and security affairs, as well as culture, sports, media, tourism, social development, health, education, commerce, industry, investment, infrastructure, and energy.

Bilateral relations between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have developed significantly in recent years, with both countries also strengthening cooperation in multilateral forums. In terms of economic ties, the bilateral trade volume reached $8.5 billion as of the end of 2025.