You wouldn’t expect to see signs written in Arabic as well as Russian just outside of Moscow, would you? But it’s just one of many crosscultural sights following a surge of Arabic tourism in the country.
Arabic tourists are surging into the country in a trend that is only growing. According to Gulf News, the country saw 52,400 Arabic visitors in 2024, increasing from just 9,300 in 2023. The 563% increase is likely due a streamlined visa process permitting visa-free travel for stays of 30 days or fewer and 90 days maximum within a one-year period.
While the trend has exploded in recent years, it’s not without precedent. According to The Moscow Times, the Russian capital city surpassed Paris and London as the favorite destination for wealthy Arabic tourists in 2021, with 108,000 flooding the city between January and September. But in that case, it was more lenient coronavirus requirements, not simplified visa policy, contributing to the surge.
“We’ve felt an influx of guests from the Middle East, mainly from the UAE, since the beginning of the year,” said Alyona Kosulnikova, marketing director for the Metropol Hotel, told The Moscow Times. “This trend has been rapidly developing since mid-May, [and] we can now state that tourists from the Persian Gulf collectively accounted for an equivalent share of Russian tourists from May to September.”
Since the tumult of the COVID-19 pandemic, the region has been anything but tranquil, starting with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and continuing into 2026. But that hasn’t stopped Arabic tourists from exploring the region, whether it be feeding deer, driving hovercraft, or riding in hot air balloons, according to Modern Diplomacy.
“For many, it is their first encounter with real winter,” Sana Khan wrote for Modern Diplomacy. “At Nazarievo Husky Park, 45 kilometres west of central Moscow, Arabic signage now accompanies Russian, a visible sign of a growing and unexpected tourism trend.”
And they’re bringing big money with them. According to Modern Diplomacy, tour operators are seeing between 200,000-300,000 in roubles spending per visitor, and with Western sanctions freezing out payment systems like Visa and Mastercard, it’s largely done in cash. Visitors are permitted up to $10,000 in undeclared cash.
Russian officials and businesses are doing everything they can to ensure the visitors feel welcome during their stay. In addition to the expanding Arabic signage, Moscow officials oversaw the translation of its metro map into Arabic, according to Arabian Gulf Business Insight. Likewise, restaurants and shops in high-tourism areas have translated their menus and product information into Arabic.
While the simple travel requirements are motivating travel, Arabic visitors also find Russia a comparatively affordable getaway, Arabian Gulf Business Insight reports. Tourists find a little slice of luxury for less than one would expect, with caviar brunches running $100 and five-star hotels starting at $150 per night.
Likewise, the sheer contrast between home and host nations carries a certain appeal as visitors trade the heat and deserts of the Middle East for the winter of the far north. Between snowtubing, skating, and visits with sled dogs and bears, tourists are finding a wealth of activities and experiences unavailable at home.
“During the summer months, Russia offers a refreshing alternative to the Gulf’s extreme heat and is increasingly trying to tailor its tourism offerings to suit the preferences of Arab visitors in general,” Andrey Ostroukh wrote for Arabian Gulf Business Insight.