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The Saudi Foreign Ministry reported that Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah signed the pact with Paraguayan Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano during the high-level week of the 81st UN General Assembly session. The accord provides for visa-free short stays for eligible passport holders from each country and aims to simplify official travel while expanding cooperative ties. Discussions at the meeting also covered the current state of bilateral relations between the two nations.
According to the ministry, the two top diplomats examined regional and international developments of shared interest following the signing ceremony. The exchange underscored a joint commitment to advancing stability through diplomatic means and high-level coordination. Such engagements reflect Saudi Arabia’s ongoing push to broaden its international partnerships across multiple continents.
Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States, attended the New York meeting, the ministry stated. Her involvement highlighted the significance attached to strengthening links with Latin American countries. The event builds on a series of recent diplomatic initiatives by the kingdom in the Western Hemisphere.
Saudi Arabia has approved multiple similar visa exemption agreements in recent months, with a Gulf News dispatch from July noting Cabinet endorsement of pacts with Hungary, Kazakhstan and Poland covering diplomatic, service and special passports. These steps align with efforts to facilitate official exchanges and support broader foreign policy objectives under Vision 2030. The Saudi passport currently offers visa-free or on-arrival access to 91 destinations worldwide, according to the Henley Passport Index.
Paraguay has signaled interest in further enhancing relations with Saudi Arabia, including potential plans to establish an embassy in Riyadh and ease entry rules for Saudi citizens, recent visa policy compilations indicate. The current agreement for official passports represents an initial step that could lead to expanded trade, investment and people-to-people contacts in the future. Officials from both sides view the deal as a foundation for deeper collaboration in areas of mutual benefit.
This latest accord adds to Saudi Arabia’s expanding roster of diplomatic visa waivers, which the Foreign Ministry has described as key to fostering global engagement and economic diversification. Implementation details, including the exact start date for the exemption, remain under discussion between the two capitals. The signing comes amid a busy period of bilateral diplomacy on the margins of the UN gathering.
