Saudi Arabia, Russia sign mutual visa exemption agreement

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak signed here on Monday an agreement on mutual visa exemption for citizens of both countries, according to a statement released by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported Xinhua.

The exemption applies to all types of passports. It allows visa-free entry for visitors traveling for tourism, business, or to visit relatives and friends, for up to 90 consecutive or non-consecutive days within a year.

The statement added that the exemption does not apply to individuals traveling for work, study, residency, or Hajj, as these purposes require special visas.

Russia is the first country with which Saudi Arabia has signed a mutual visa-exemption agreement that applies to holders of regular passports, according to the ministry.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Saudi-Russian Investment and Business Forum, which brought together senior officials, experts, and investors from both countries with the aim of strengthening economic cooperation.

On the sidelines of the forum, the two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in climate change and low-carbon development.