Saudi Arabia and Russia have signed a mutual visa exemption agreement allowing citizens of both countries to travel without visas for select purposes, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The accord was concluded on December 1, 2025, in Riyadh on the sidelines of the Saudi-Russian Investment and Business Forum.
The agreement was signed by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. The forum, where the signing took place, was inaugurated by Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and Deputy Prime Minister Novak.
Under the terms of the agreement, visa-free entry applies to holders of all types of passports—diplomatic, special, and regular—and covers travel for tourism, business, and visiting relatives and friends. Eligible travelers may stay for up to 90 days, either consecutively or nonconsecutively, within a one-year period.
The exemption does not apply to those traveling for work, study, residency, or Hajj, for which special visas remain required. Authorities emphasized that travelers must continue to comply with all applicable entry regulations and conditions.
Officials stated that the arrangement is intended to streamline entry procedures for citizens of both countries, supporting an increase in reciprocal visits and facilitating tourism, economic exchange, and cultural cooperation. The move is also expected to bolster various sectors and expand avenues for partnership between the two nations.
Significantly, Russia is the first country with which the Kingdom has concluded a mutual visa exemption agreement that includes holders of regular passports, marking a notable milestone in Saudi Arabia’s evolving travel and mobility policies.
The signing on the margins of the Saudi-Russian Investment and Business Forum underscores the broader trajectory of deepening ties, as the two sides continue to explore opportunities in trade, investment, and sectoral collaboration under high-level governmental engagement.
The announcement was reported by the Saudi Press Agency at 15:02 local time (12:02 GMT) on December 1, 2025.