Arab tourists drawn to Russian winter activities reflect Moscow’s strategic pivot

In sub-zero temperatures just outside Moscow, husky sleds sweep across snow-covered fields carrying visitors from Oman and the United Arab Emirates — many experiencing a true winter for the first time. At the "Husky Land" wildlife park in the Nazarievo region, 45 kilometres west of central Moscow, Arabic writing now appears alongside Russian, underscoring a surprising and fast-growing tourism trend. Nearby, Qatari families feed deer in frosted enclosures, while Emirati tourists pilot hovercraft over frozen lakes. Further north in the Dmitrov district, Saudi visitors float above white expanses in hot air balloons. 

For travellers from the Gulf, accustomed to desert heat, Russia’s winter has become an exotic draw — prompting park operators to open two additional locations around the capital. Far from anecdotal, an analysis by Modern Diplomacy suggests the phenomenon signals a deeper structural shift in Russia’s global positioning.

Four years into the war with Ukraine, Russia’s geopolitical and economic reorientation is reshaping sectors well beyond energy and defence. With relations with Europe still strained and Western tourism having sharply declined, Moscow has intensified outreach to Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

The Gulf states — particularly Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar — have become key diplomatic interlocutors. They have facilitated prisoner exchanges and humanitarian negotiations linked to the Ukraine conflict. That political pragmatism has translated into practical cooperation, including expanded direct flight connections, simplified visa procedures and warmer official ties.

Tourism has emerged as one of the clearest dividends of this rapprochement. Official figures indicate that while Chinese travellers remain the largest group of inbound visitors — as has long been the case — Saudi Arabia ranked second last year with nearly 75,000 visitors, a year-on-year increase of roughly 36 percent. The UAE accounted for more than 59,000 tourists, placing sixth overall. Across much of the Arab world, visitor numbers have in several cases doubled compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Gulf tourists also represent significant economic value. They tend to stay in high-end hotels in central Moscow, dine in premium Russia-themed restaurants and shop in luxury districts. Tour operators estimate average discretionary spending of between 200,000 and 300,000 roubles per visitor (approximately $2,500 to $3,900) on additional services alone.

Sanctions have inadvertently reinforced this pattern. Western payment systems such as Visa and Mastercard no longer operate in Russia, requiring visitors to carry substantial sums of cash — up to $10,000 without declaration. The result is a largely cash-based tourism flow that benefits luxury retailers and service providers.

Unlike many Western tourists before 2022, Gulf visitors often travel in extended family groups and book curated, high-cost winter experiences: husky sledding, hovercraft rides, private snowmobile excursions and bespoke cultural tours. The Russian winter itself has effectively become a marketable commodity — a form of climatic tourism that appeals strongly to residents of desert regions.

According to the publication, the rise in Arabic-speaking tourism highlights three broader dynamics.

First, Russia’s foreign policy pivot is producing tangible civilian economic flows, not merely symbolic diplomatic gestures. Tourism is functioning as a soft-power channel that reinforces new partnerships.

Second, Gulf states are advancing a strategy of diversified geopolitical engagement. Their deepening ties with Moscow, while maintaining Western alliances, reflect a policy of multi-alignment rather than bloc-based politics.

Third, sanctions have altered — rather than halted — Russia’s integration into global networks. While Western leisure travel has largely disappeared, new corridors are forming, particularly with China and the Gulf.

The image of Emirati tourists gliding across frozen Russian lakes may seem anecdotal. Yet, as the article argues, it is emblematic of a broader geopolitical recalibration: as traditional travel routes close, new ones are opening, albeit in sometimes unexpected directions.

By Nazrin Sadigova