Saudi Visitors Lead Foreign Tourist Spending in Moscow in 2025

Tourists from Saudi Arabia spend more money in Moscow than visitors of any other nationality, according to data released by the city's tourism authorities. The trend highlights a broader shift in Russia's inbound tourism market, with travelers from the Middle East and South Asia playing an increasingly prominent role.

Photo: Mos.ru by Фото: Евгений Самарин, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Tourists in Moscow

Saudi Visitors Lead in Spending

In an interview with the Kommersant, the head of Moscow's tourism committee, Yevgeny Kozlov, revealed that Saudi travelers have the highest average expenditures among all foreign guests in the Russian capital.

"The average spending of tourists from Saudi Arabia reaches 302,000 rubles over a ten-day stay. For comparison, the average foreign tourist spends about 206,100 rubles,” Kozlov said.

According to the tourism official, visitors from the Middle East and India now represent the most financially significant segment of Moscow's international tourism market, driven by longer stays, premium accommodation choices, and higher spending on shopping and services.

Growing Tourist Flows From the Middle East

The rise in spending coincides with a rapid increase in the number of visitors from the region. In the first half of 2025, the number of tourists arriving in Moscow from Oman grew by a factor of 2.6, while arrivals from Saudi Arabia increased by 1.3 times year-on-year.

Tour operators attribute this growth to improved transport links, targeted marketing campaigns, and Moscow's expanding range of luxury hospitality and cultural offerings tailored to Middle Eastern travelers.

Visa-Free Travel Boosts Tourism Prospects

Additional momentum is expected following a bilateral agreement signed on December 1 between Russia and Saudi Arabia on the mutual abolition of visas for holders of all types of passports. The agreement is scheduled to enter into force 60 days after both sides complete their internal approval procedures.

Industry experts believe the visa-free regime will further stimulate tourist flows, encourage repeat visits, and strengthen Moscow's position as a major destination for high-spending international travelers.

With tourism patterns shifting away from traditional European markets, Moscow is increasingly positioning itself as an attractive destination for visitors from the Middle East, whose spending power is reshaping the city's tourism economy.