In a first-of-its-kind event reflecting the growing depth of relations between Riyadh and Moscow, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) revealed a remarkable achievement for the Saudi outbound tourism sector, with Saudi Arabia ranking second globally in the number of tourists arriving in Russia by the end of 2025.
This advanced ranking reshapes the map of inbound tourism to Russia, with the Kingdom surpassing traditional major players in this field such as Germany, which held second place in 2024 while Saudi Arabia ranked sixth. This significant leap indicates a major shift in the preferred travel destinations for Saudis and a growing interest in exploring Russian destinations.
Record numbers and rapid growth
According to official data from the association, the number of Saudi citizens visiting Russia for tourism reached a record high of approximately 74,919, representing a growth rate of 35.8% compared to the previous year. This significant increase is not a coincidence, but rather the result of several strategic and logistical factors that have facilitated travel between the two countries.
Economic and tourism experts believe that this growth is mainly due to the expansion of the network of direct flights between Saudi and Russian cities, in addition to the ongoing facilitation of travel procedures, including the electronic visa systems that Russia recently adopted to encourage tourism from the Gulf and Middle Eastern countries.
Diplomatic and economic context
This tourism growth cannot be separated from the broader context of Saudi-Russian relations, which have witnessed remarkable development in recent years, whether through cooperation within OPEC+ or through economic and investment partnerships. This political and economic rapprochement has created a safe and encouraging environment for citizens of both countries to exchange visits, thus strengthening soft power and cultural exchange between the two peoples.
The list of the top ten countries, with China at the top
Despite Saudi Arabia's strong performance, China maintains its absolute dominance of the Russian tourism market, capturing the lion's share at 50.8% of all tourists and 64.7% of tourists from the top ten countries. This is primarily due to the visa-free travel agreement for tour groups, which has significantly boosted the influx of Chinese tourists, particularly in the last quarter of the year.
The list of the top ten countries sending tourists to Russia, in addition to China and Saudi Arabia, included Turkmenistan, which recorded growth of 29%, Turkey with an increase of 16.7%, Belarus, which jumped by 80.9%, and India with 66%. The list also included the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Germany.
The general landscape of tourism in Russia
Overall, the Russian tourism sector has seen a remarkable recovery, with the total number of foreign tourists reaching 1.6 million by the end of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.5%. The last quarter of the year played a crucial role in these positive results, with arrivals rising by 24.4%, driven primarily by Chinese tourists and the incentives offered to friendly countries, most notably Saudi Arabia.
