On 19 February 2026, Russia and Saudi Arabia are celebrating a landmark date – the centenary of the institution of diplomatic relations. The Soviet Union was the primary state to acknowledge the Kingdom of Hejaz, Nejd and its Dependencies, which was later reworked into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia below the management of King Abdulaziz. This step laid the muse for the additional strengthening and growth of bilateral ties primarily based on the ideas of equality, mutual respect and belief.
Over the previous 100 years, the Russian-Saudi relations have come a protracted and significant path. On the present stage, our multifaceted partnership has, in essence, assumed a strategic character. On this regard, the position of trust-based high-level dialogue can hardly be overstated. Essential milestones included the primary go to to Moscow in 2003 by then Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, and in 2007 the first-ever go to within the bilateral historical past by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to Saudi Arabia.
Our cooperation reached a basically new stage following the accession to the throne in 2015 of King Salman bin Abdulaziz. A considerable contribution to strengthening Russian-Saudi ties has been made by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Russia extremely values his efforts towards modernization of his nation.
A strong impetus to our long-standing interplay was given by the first-ever state go to of King Salman to Moscow in October 2017 and the reciprocal state go to of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to Riyadh in October 2019, in addition to the Russian chief’s go to to the Kingdom in December 2023.
In recent times, we’ve witnessed the lively growth of sensible cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia. The important thing mechanism for advancing it’s the Joint Russian-Saudi Intergovernmental Fee on Commerce, Financial, Scientific and Technical Cooperation. The Russian-Saudi Enterprise Council has additionally been working successfully, facilitating direct contacts between the enterprise communities of our two nations. Consequently, bilateral commerce turnover has been steadily rising, and new joint initiatives are being carried out in trade, agriculture, and different promising sectors.
Among the many undisputed priorities of the Russian-Saudi partnership is the power sector. Russia and Saudi Arabia are among the many world’s largest oil producers. The soundness of the worldwide financial system immediately is dependent upon the coordination of our actions. It was our two nations that initiated the institution of the OPEC+ format, bringing collectively OPEC and a bunch of non-OPEC states. Choices adopted inside OPEC+ to restrict, and subsequently to flexibly modify, crude oil manufacturing assist easy value volatility and guarantee predictability within the oil market.
In recent times, our nations have taken essential sensible steps aimed toward additional stimulating enterprise and people-to-people ties. In August 2025 common direct flights between Moscow and Riyadh had been launched and since December 2025 flights from Moscow to Jeddah have additionally been launched.
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Of specific significance is the Settlement between the Authorities of the Russian Federation and the Authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the mutual visa exemption for residents of the Russian Federation and residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed in Riyadh on 1 December 2025 on the sidelines of the ninth session of the Russian-Saudi Intergovernmental Fee. Its entry into pressure is anticipated within the close to future. Notably, the Russian Federation turned the primary nation exterior the GCC member states with which Saudi Arabia determined to ascertain a visa-free regime.
The undertaken efforts, which completely complement the commerce and financial agenda of Russian-Saudi cooperation, give a tangible enhance to the event of tourism, enterprise, scientific and humanitarian ties. A particular place is occupied by spiritual journey: yearly 25000 Russian Muslims arrive in Saudi Arabia to carry out the Hajj, whereas tens of 1000’s of different members of Russia’s Muslim neighborhood go to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah.
Exchanges within the cultural sphere are enjoying an more and more seen position. A vivid instance was Saudi Arabia’s participation within the revived Worldwide Music Competitors “Intervision”, efficiently held in Russia in September 2025 and the next determination by the Saudi management to host “Intervision-2026” within the Kingdom. We stand able to share our expertise and supply crucial help to our Saudi mates.
As Ambassador of the Russian Federation, I might particularly word the shut international coverage coordination between Moscow and Riyadh, together with on the most important worldwide venues, amongst them the United Nations and the G20. Our positions on most world and regional points both coincide or are very shut. We’re united by a agency dedication to the ideas of the UN Constitution of their entirety, interconnection and indivisibility; by respect for the cultural and civilizational variety of the peoples of the world; and by recognition of their proper to decide on independently their paths of political and socio-economic growth.
The equal and mutually respectful dialogue constructed over the course of a century permits us not solely to take delight in what has been achieved, but in addition to look to the long run with confidence and optimism. Particularly since as we speak our nations face new and more and more formidable challenges. These challenges are dictated by life itself and the logic of worldwide relations. Along with our Saudi mates, we are going to proceed to work in direction of their profitable decision and in direction of additional realization of the huge potential of our strategic partnership, for the advantage of the peoples of our two nations and within the identify of strengthening regional and world safety and stability.
