Russia and Saudi Arabia have introduced a visa-free regime
The visa-free agreement between the Russian Federation and Saudi Arabia, which the parties signed in December 2025, officially entered into force on May 11.
From now on, Russian citizens can visit the Kingdom without having to apply for a visa in advance for short-term trips.
Under the new rules, a foreign passport is sufficient for entry for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days within a year.
This decision significantly simplifies logistics for the business community and travelers who previously had to deal with lengthy bureaucratic procedures.
At the same time, the simplified regime does not apply to all categories of visits to the country.
For study, work, as well as performing the Hajj or Umrah—specific types of pilgrimage—you will need to obtain the appropriate visa, as was the case previously.
The situation with air travel between the countries remains challenging due to the limited number of available flights.
Before the full-scale war began, direct flights were operated mainly by the Saudi carriers Flynas and Saudia, but their market activity is now significantly limited.
At present, it is practically impossible to book tickets for direct flights with these airlines.
On their official websites, available flight options do not appear until August–September 2026 at the earliest, creating a certain shortage of options for new visa-free tourists.
Russia is recruiting children from occupied territories for propaganda through the Yunkor program
Russia is seeing a trend toward a decline in staffing levels across various sectors, including IT, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, retail, consulting, and other business services.
The Russian Ministry of Finance forecasts a sharp increase in regional budget deficits to $21 billion.
