Russia, Saudi Arabia sign visa-free travel for all passport holders

Russia and Saudi Arabia have signed an intergovernmental agreement abolishing visa requirements for holders of all passport types.

The signing took place during the Russia–Saudi Arabia Business Forum in Saudi Arabia, with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak in attendance, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Russia had earlier announced plans to establish a visa-free regime with the kingdom, publishing details during a strategic session on tourism development in early October. On October 27, the Russian government approved the draft agreement.

According to the document, the agreement will enter into force 60 days after the two countries exchange official notifications confirming their readiness to implement the visa-free regime.

Once in effect, Russian citizens will be able to stay in Saudi Arabia without a visa for up to 90 days.

In 2023, Russia launched a unified electronic visa (e-visa) scheme that included Saudi citizens, allowing them to travel to Russia for tourism, business, or private visits without visiting an embassy.

The e-visa rollout led to a dramatic surge in Saudi tourism to Russia: the number of Saudi visitors increased from about 9,300 in 2023 to around 52,400 in 2024, a 570 % rise.

This boom in visitor numbers prompted Russian tourism officials to label Saudi Arabia as one of the “most promising emerging markets” for inbound tourism, with direct flights and tailored travel packages further enhancing travel flow.

By Jeyhun Aghazada