Russia e-visa for 60 countries is draw for UAE expats: Moscow City Tourism

Dubai: Moscow City Tourism officials are optimistic that Russia’s e-visa scheme, which covers nationals from 60 countries, will attract expatriate travellers from the UAE.

While UAE and Russia already have a reciprocal visa-free travel agreement that allows citizens of both nations to enter, stay, or transit without a visa for up to 90 days, officials are encouraging UAE expatriates to take advantage of the new e-visa system.

Bulat Nurmukhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, highlighted the convenience of the e-visa, which is available to nationals from countries like India, China, Austria, Japan, Bahrain, and several European nations.

He said, “Russia’s electronic visa is now available to citizens of around 60 countries, including India, China, Iran, and most European nations.”

Nurmukhanov added, “The application process is simple, allowing travellers to apply online and receive their e-visa within four to five working days. Previously, the e-visa was valid for 16 days, but it has now been extended to 30 days for both business and leisure visits.”

When asked about the possibility of extending visa-free travel to UAE residents, Nurmukhanov said, “While that would be a fantastic initiative, it’s not for us to comment on visa policies as those decisions lie with federal authorities. However, we remain hopeful that (the Federal government will consider) such a proposal in the future.”

According to Nurmukhanov, the surge in tourism flow from the UAE to Moscow is remarkable despite Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine. He said, “By the first nine months of last year, we welcomed over 40,000 tourists from the UAE—compared to just 5,000 in 2022.”

UAE and Moscow share robust air connectivity, with over 200 weekly flights, including low-cost and premium airlines. “This makes short trips convenient,” said Nurmukhanov.

He said, “The Gulf region, especially the UAE, is a key market for us, and we are eager to see more Emirati visitors enjoying Moscow as a regular destination.”

The capital city welcomed 25 million tourists last year. However, Moscow is targeting 52 million tourists by 2030, including 6 million foreign tourists - mainly travellers from CIS countries, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and other parts of the world.

Dubai quickly became a popular destination for affluent Russian travellers following the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. That year, 758,000 Russians visited the city, marking a 70 per cent increase compared to the previous year. By mid-2023, Russia had become Dubai’s second-largest source market after India.

Although the number of Russian tourists slowed as many chose to relocate to Dubai permanently or travel to other destinations, the tourism connection between Dubai and Russia has remained robust.

Nurmukhanov said Moscow City Tourism is working closely with UAE-based businesses, destination management companies in Moscow, and hotels to diversify their offerings to attract travellers from the GCC.

“Safety, accessibility, and overcoming language barriers are our key priorities. We aim to provide the best possible experience for international visitors, particularly those from the UAE,” he stated.

In 2024, Moscow launched a Muslim-friendly guide aggregating hotels, restaurants, and other sites catering to tourists from Middle Eastern countries.

When asked if regional geopolitical tensions have impacted Moscow-UAE travel, Nurmukhanov said, “Moscow remains an attractive destination for travellers worldwide. Tourism has always been a force that unites people rather than divides them. Tourism brings peace, understanding, and happiness, making it so important in our lives.”