At his opening address, Prince Abdulaziz underscored the enduring nature of Saudi–Russian relations, citing a bilateral trade volume of approximately US$3.5 billion in 2024. He recalled a 2015 meeting with Moscow that he described as the foundation of what has evolved into a “joint collaboration programme” under the broader umbrella of OPEC+ cooperation. He emphasised that the agenda has shifted beyond oil and gas to encompass liquefied natural gas, hydropower and potential nuclear-energy development.
The forum’s proceedings resulted in a mutual visa-waiver agreement between Saudi Arabia and the Russian Federation that allows citizens of both countries to travel visa-free for tourism, business or visits to relatives for up to 90 days per year. This arrangement applies to all passport categories, including ordinary, special and diplomatic. It does not cover travel for work, study, residency or pilgrimages such as Hajj. Russia becomes the first country with which Saudi Arabia has signed a visa-exemption deal that extends to regular passport holders.
Participants also signed a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Ministry of Energy and Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development targeting cooperation in climate-change mitigation, emissions reduction, and energy-efficiency projects. Additional agreements included archival cooperation between Saudi and Russian cultural-heritage institutions, enabling joint exhibitions, exchanges and academic collaboration.
The push to deepen cooperation reflects broader strategic alignment. In the context of global energy turbulence and shifting alliances, both countries are seeking to diversify ties and recalibrate cooperation beyond hydrocarbons. The inclusion of infrastructure, technology, agriculture, and sustainable energy partnerships at the forum signals a deliberate pivot toward a more comprehensive economic relationship.
At the launch, Prince Abdulaziz described the outcome of the most recent OPEC+ meeting as “a turning point”, enabling transparent assessment of member states’ maximum production capacities beginning in 2027. He said this mechanism would reward investors and those confident in rising energy demand — implicitly underscoring Saudi–Russian coordination in global energy markets.
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Saudi Arabia