239,100 Middle Eastern tourists visited Moscow from January to September 2025

Moscow has released data on tourist numbers from the Middle East for the period January to September 2025. In total, the Russian capital welcomed 239,100 visitors from the region during these nine months, indicating a continuing strong interest in Moscow from residents of Middle Eastern countries. The Russian capital is seeing particularly strong growth in visitor numbers from Saudi Arabia (43.7 thousand tourists in the first nine months of 2025) and Oman (15.2 thousand tourists over the same period).

Tourists from the Middle East highlight the high levels of safety, service, and hospitality in Moscow. The city’s rich historical heritage, authentic culture and wide range of leisure options – from culinary tourism to shopping for local products – combined with a yearround calendar of events and festivals make Moscow an attractive destination in every season. Furthermore, the Russian capital has become even more accessible. Beyond simplifying the visa regime for Middle Eastern countries (via evisas or visafree travel), the number of direct flights has increased. New routes were launched from Saudi Arabia this year, and starting 1 December, the frequency of flights from Riyadh on the national carrier Saudia has risen to five per week.

In 2025, Moscow continued to strengthen cooperation with partners across the Middle East, expanding cultural dialogue, tourism collaboration, and professional exchanges. Its engagement ranged from hosting business missions for the regional travel industry in Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, and Turkey, to organizing the first 'Moscow Seasons' festival in Kuwait, which attracted over 375,000 visitors. These efforts reflect the city’s long-term commitment to developing strong, trust-based relationships with the region and creating new opportunities for cooperation in culture and tourism.

For the current winter season, Moscow is once again focusing its appeal on Middle Eastern tourists. Visitors are promised a genuine winter fairytale, featuring festively decorated streets and open-air markets, themed performances – from ice shows to classical ballet – and a host of opportunities for traditional winter pastimes, from ice skating to husky sledding.