Russia considers lifting tourist visa needs for Saudi, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain

Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov smiles during the Eastern Economic Forum on September 06, 2022 in Vladivostok, Russia [Contributor/Getty Images]

Russia is working to implement visa-free travel for citizens of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, the Minister of Economic Development, Maxim Reshetnikov, said.

“We are working toward establishing a visa-free system with countries of the Middle East and South Asia. We have proposed completely annulling visas for Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. One of the reasons for interest in this issue is the possibility of increasing the traffic of tourists, including premium-class visitors,” Russian state-owned news agency Sputnik quoted Reshetnikov as saying yesterday.

The move builds on similar agreements which were implemented in August. Over the summer, Russia and China began accepting groups of tourists under the framework of an intergovernmental agreement on visa-free group tourism exchanges.

READ: Russia in talks for visa-free travels for its nationals to the Gulf

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