The Russian government has adopted a draft agreement with Saudi Arabia on the mutual abolition of visa requirements. The corresponding document has been published on the website for the publication of legal acts.
"Approve the draft agreement submitted by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, agreed upon with the interested federal executive bodies, and preliminarily worked out with the Saudi side, <...> on the mutual abolition of visa requirements for citizens of the Russian Federation and citizens of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," the order states.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instructed to hold negotiations with the Saudi side on this issue, allowing for minor changes.
The document states that the agreement between Russia and Saudi Arabia will enter into force 60 days after the date of receipt of the last notification through official channels regarding the countries' readiness to introduce visa-free travel.
Intourist's press service director and expert at the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RUTI), Daria Domostroyeva, told RBC that visa-free travel with Saudi Arabia will be a powerful boost to tourism. Visa abolition will foster mutual interest and expand business and cultural ties.
"Although Russian citizens could already obtain an e-visa or visa-on-arrival for up to 90 days at a cost of 8,500 rubles, the complete waiver of the visa fee removes the last administrative barrier," Mikhail Abasov, CEO of VCP Travel and an expert with the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST), commented to RBC on the mutual visa waiver.
Abasov also noted the increased tourist flow from Saudi Arabia to Russia in recent years. According to his data, nearly 10,000 tourists from the Arab country visited Russia in the first quarter of 2025, 47 times more than in the same period in 2019 and 66% more than in the same period in 2024. According to the expert, this growth has allowed Saudi Arabia to become one of the top three countries for the number of tourists to Russia for the first time, behind only China and Turkey.
Artur Muradyan, a member of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RUT) board and CEO of SpaceTravel, told RBC that Saudi Arabian airlines are actively expanding their flight programs to Russia. Two airlines have already increased the frequency of flights to Riyadh, and the launch of FlyNAS flights from Jeddah has opened direct access to the kingdom's key economic hubs.
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