Saudi Arabia's National Airline Confirms October Start For Direct Moscow Flights
Saudi Arabia's national carrier Saudia will start non-stop flights between Riyadh and Moscow from October1, in a move to capitalise on the sharp rise in Saudi tourism to Russia. The new service will offer three weekly flights.
The announcement comes amid what officials described as an unprecedented surge in Saudi arrivals to Russia, driven largely by Moscow's rollout of a streamlined electronic visa system in August 2023. According to Russian government data, 52,400 Saudi citizens visited the country in 2024, a more than 570% increase from just 9,300 the previous year.
That momentum has continued into 2025. In the first six months of the year, Moscow welcomed over 9,900 Saudi visitors, marking a 50% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Russian authorities have credited the spike to the e-visa programme, which allows Saudi passport holders to apply for travel authorisation online.
The introduction of direct flights by Saudia is expected to bolster that growth further, offering both convenience and connectivity at a time of deepening cultural and economic engagement between the two nations.
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