Saudi Arabia: 3rd December2025, the Moscow City Tourism Committee held a business mission to present the winter season to the tourism industry. The event was attended by 118 travel companies, including 33 representatives from Moscow’s tourism sector, reflecting the growing mutual interest.
Saudi Arabia is among the top five countries in terms of tourist growth to Moscow. In the first nine months of 2025, the capital welcomed 43,700 visitors from Saudi Arabia. This year, Moscow has become even more accessible. Direct flights between Riyadh and Moscow have been launched, with six flights per week connecting the two capitals. On 1 December, the Russian Government and Saudi Arabia signed an intergovernmental agreement establishing a reciprocal visa-free regime.
During the event, the Moscow City Tourism Committee presented the “Winter in Moscow” project starting from 1 December. The city’s central streets are adorned with fir trees, colorful open-air markets, and light installations, immersing visitors in a festive atmosphere. Guests can explore traditional winter activities and traditions – from ice-skating at Europe’s largest rink at VDNH to stepping back in time to experience the atmosphere of 19th-century Moscow nobility during the “Moscow Estates” festival. The “Winter in Moscow” project spans over 400 venues across the capital and features more than 1000 vibrant events, offering visitors the chance to enjoy a true Moscow winter fairytale.
Moscow is also adapting its tourism infrastructure for travellers from Saudi Arabia — from developing language infrastructure in Arabic to publishing a specialised Muslim-friendly guide, where visitors can find information on halal restaurants and hotels, as well as major attractions. For travel planning, the online platform Discover Moscow provides all the necessary information for visiting the city, and Moscow is also represented on Snapchat and TikTok. The city has tourist information centres where guests can receive assistance in Arabic and English, and more than 150 certified guides offer personalised tours of Moscow in foreign languages.
The Moscow City Tourism Committee develops a strong and sustainable brand for Moscow as a tourist destination. Its initiatives include business missions, familiarization trips to Moscow, the organization of world-class industry and cultural events, participation in international exhibitions and forums.
