Moscow, Russia — Russia is working to establish a visa-free regime with all Gulf countries, said Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister and special presidential representative for the Middle East and African countries.
“In principle, such work is going on systematically. Because, of course, I think it is in the interests of our countries and peoples to communicate and to promote joint business and tourism,” he told TASS.
Bogdanov also noted that efforts in this direction were in progress with all countries of the Persian Gulf.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry told TASS intergovernmental agreements were being drafted on visa-free travel by individuals with Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Haiti, Zambia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
In September last year, Russia offered the complete cancellation of tourist visas to Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
Russia’s Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov told the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), “We are exploring the topic of making the transition to visa-free travels. Countries of the Middle East and Southeast Asia are among those, with which we interact. We offered full abolishment of visas to Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. This is where incremental growth of premium class tourists is possible in particular. That’s why we are interested in it.”
