Russian citizens can now travel to Saudi Arabia without a visa after a long-awaited bilateral agreement between Moscow and Riyadh officially came into force on Monday, May 11.
Under the deal, Russians are allowed to stay in the kingdom for up to 90 days per calendar year without obtaining a visa in advance, RIA-Novosti reported. The same rules apply to Saudi citizens visiting Russia.
The agreement marks a significant diplomatic gesture from Riyadh, with Russia becoming only the fourth country granted such privileged access by Saudi Arabia after Kuwait, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.
The visa waiver, however, excludes travel for work, study, or permanent residency. Russian citizens will also still need special visas for Islamic pilgrimages including Hajj and Umrah, according to Russia’s Foreign Ministry.
The agreement was signed in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Dec. 1, 2025, amid rapidly expanding political and economic ties between Moscow and Gulf states. Until now, Russians were required to apply for either an electronic visa or a visa on arrival to enter the kingdom.
According to estimates by Russian outlet RBC, holders of Russian passports can currently enter 79 countries without a visa; 49 of those destinations offer stays of up to 90 days, including the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, and South Africa.
Another 110 countries remain accessible to Russians through simplified entry procedures such as electronic visas or visas issued upon arrival.