Middle Eastern Tourists Flock to Russia as Moscow Strengthens Gulf Ties

Russia is experiencing a surge in Arabic-speaking tourists from Gulf nations as Moscow deepens diplomatic relationships with countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Saudi Arabian visitors increased by nearly 36% last year, making it Russia's second-largest source of tourists after China.

MOSCOW – Against the backdrop of freezing temperatures just outside Russia’s capital, visitors from Oman and the United Arab Emirates experience their first taste of winter weather while being pulled through snow-laden landscapes by teams of sled dogs.

At a nearby location, travelers from Qatar interact with deer while other Middle Eastern guests navigate hovercrafts at high speeds across frozen lake surfaces.

“It was like drifting in the desert but here on ice,” explained Badreya Almarooqi, a UAE visitor at the Nazarievo Husky Park located 30 miles west of downtown Moscow, where signage appears in both Arabic and Russian languages.

Further north of Moscow, additional Gulf region tourists gather in hot air balloons to float above the expansive winter terrain.

“(It was) one of the best activities in my life!” exclaimed Ayoub Aziz, a Saudi Arabian traveler who participated in activities in the Dmitrov area, situated 40 miles from Moscow’s center and representing one of numerous recreational destinations surrounding the capital.

As Russia enters its fourth year of conflict in Ukraine, Moscow’s strategic shift away from Western nations and efforts to strengthen relationships with other global regions has created a significant increase in Arabic-speaking visitors.

Enhanced diplomatic connections have resulted in additional direct flight routes connecting Moscow with major Gulf capitals, implementation of visa-free travel policies, and strengthened political relationships through Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia’s involvement in facilitating prisoner exchanges and child transfers to Ukraine.

Chinese tourists, representing Russia’s longstanding ally, dominated visitor statistics with over 800,000 arrivals last year. However, Saudi Arabia claimed the second position for the first time with approximately 75,000 tourists, representing a nearly 36% year-over-year growth, while the UAE contributed more than 59,000 visitors, ranking sixth overall.

“Virtually all Arab countries have at least doubled their numbers,” stated Alexander Musikhin, who serves as general director of the Intourist tour operator.

“But there are also destinations like Saudi Arabia, which has increased its arrivals in Russia — and in Moscow in particular — by almost 15 times compared with the pre‑pandemic period,” he added.

Gulf visitors typically choose luxury accommodations in Moscow’s central district and frequently visit premium Russian-themed dining establishments and popular shopping areas throughout the city.

Tour operators report these guests typically spend between 200,000-300,000 rubles ($6,523) on additional services, though spending could be higher if regulations didn’t restrict cash imports to $10,000 without declaration. Western sanctions have disabled Visa and Mastercard services in Russia, “so it has to be in cash,” noted UAE visitor Rashan Godani.

Despite ongoing military operations in Ukraine, Russia attracted 1.64 million total tourists in 2025 according to the nation’s tour operator association, marking a 4.5% increase from 2024, though significantly below 2018’s 4.2 million foreign visitors during the World Cup year.

In comparison, 2.45 million Russians traveled to the UAE alone last year, increasing nearly 25% year-over-year, while some Russian business owners have established Dubai offices.

Musikhin acknowledged that war-related impacts are constraining tourism growth, including periodic Russian airport closures due to Ukrainian drone strikes and extended border crossing times from enhanced security procedures.

“Tourists are generally understanding about this,” he observed.