Moscow Nights

According to the Moscow City Tourism Committee, international tourism grew by almost 40 percent in the first three months of 2024. The tourist flow was half a million travelers from abroad.

The Asia-Pacific Region was the leader in the number of foreign tourists arrived in the Russian capital, including the travelers from China and Vietnam. They accounted for 56 percent of all the tourists from abroad. The number of tourist arrivals in Russia from the Middle East is growing dynamically and the Arab region has recently become a key one for the Moscow tourism industry. Travelers from the Arab countries choose four- and five-star hotels, and their accommodation costs a pretty good sum of money.

How can the Arab ‘pilgrimage’ to Russia be explained, because just a few years ago, only a few groups from the Middle East countries came to Moscow? The EcoTourism EXPERT correspondent talked to experts and travel agents working with the Arab tourist groups and came to certain conclusions.

On the air planes from Sharjah to Moscow, two thirds of seats are occupied by passengers from the Middle East countries. Most of the women are wearing hijabs (headscarves) or niqabs (veils covering all their faces but the eyes), and the Arab tourists travel with many children that are looked after by their African nannies. The parking lot at the exit from the Domodedovo terminal is lively and bustling, the Arabic speech is heard, some tourists use the services of local touts offering help in taking a taxi or a pre-rented car waiting for them, and other tourists use the services of the Russian taxi call aggregators. They communicate with drivers using hand gestures and the most common English phrases and speak a halting English. But everyone eventually understands each other and the tourists go to their hotels.

“The travel boom to Russia started in the Arab countries this year,” says Mohammed Selim, the BRICS tourism expert. “There is currently a huge tourist flow from the Gulf countries (Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia).” Of course, the opportunity for the Arabs to obtain electronic visas to the Russian Federation became a huge incentive as the citizens of most of the Gulf countries have the right now to receive the visas, and Russia has a visa-free regime with the UAE. The Saudis are especially interested in Russia, they use direct flight programs via Bahrain, there are direct flights from Manama to Moscow, as well as charter flights to Sochi.  

“Last year, I brought a blogger from Oman to Moscow who made the first introductory film and familiarisation features about Russia, and this year, the Arabs come in rather large tourist groups of 5-10 people,” says Selim. The Arabs usually stay either in expensive hotels or, as they prefer, in apartments. According to available information, most apartments and apart-hotels in the very center of the Russian capital are fully booked until the next spring.

The incredible adventures of the Arabs in Russia

What is it about Russia that attracts the Arabs so much? According to travel agent Johnny Elias, the Arab tourists feel safe in Russia. “Nobody says a word to them about wearing hijabs or niqabs, they feel comfortable and calm, in contrast to the European countries where the attitude towards them has been, mildly speaking, not very good lately,” he explains. “They are also amazed by the cleanliness, order, and everything is well organized.”

Already surfeited with the sightseeing in the Old and New Worlds, travelers from the Middle East discover Russia now, its magnificent architecture, as well as the Russia’s vast open spaces and much more. However, the Arabs cannot be considered classic tourists who can be lured into visiting various museums. “Of course, the excursion program includes the Kremlin museums, for example, but the Arab tourists prefer to go to the circus, zoos, including contact ones, they like the amusement park Dream Island very much and ... the shopping center Aviapark where everyone thinks it a must to take a photo against the backdrop of a huge aquarium,” says Muhammad Selim.

Also popular are husky-dog sledding or ‘getting acquainted’ with bear Tom who lives on one of the farms in the Moscow Region. By the way, a photo shoot session with the bear costing several tens of thousands of rubles is in great demand with the Arab tourists, there are queues to watch the animal. Ziplining on the Vorobyovy Gory (Sparrow Hills) or quad biking, or going in a tank turret are another entertainment and pastime for the Arabs in Russia. “The Arab tourists are fond of everything extreme - they need a thrill and just any entertainment or activities they cannot experience in their countries,” explains Johnny Elias.

Feel at home

Of course, the cultural programs offered to the Arab tourists include not only tours of Moscow. There are also short trips (often one-day ones) to the northern capital, St. Petersburg, and Sochi, especially when charter flights from Bahrain are offered to these cities. “The Arabs are not attracted by the Black Sea, they have the sea in their countries,” says Mohammed Selim. “They like the Krasnaya Polyana, the mountains, the teleferic (aerial railway), and, of course, the casino.” Casinos, discos, bars, restaurants, night entertainment venues, strip clubs - these are what many tourists from the Middle East come to Russia for. Many people travel to the westernmost point of the country, Kaliningrad, to visit casinos, and the Arab tourists also really like Kazan.

In general, the Islamic atmosphere in Russia and the opportunity to feel at home in this country attracts the Arabs. “We are currently developing a whole tourism area - the Caucasus - for travelers from the Middle East,” says Selim. “Elbrus, Arkhyz, mountains, ziplines, horseback riding, halal food, the opportunity to come, slaughter a sheep and enjoy the time with a group of friends, just like at home - they really like this, this is very popular with them.”

Meanwhile, tour operators are busy preparing for the winter season. The hotel rooms for the New Year tourism season have already been booked out, and the Arabs look forward to travel to Russia to see snow and experience a cold weather. Murmansk and even Norilsk located in the Arctic are preparing to welcome the tourists coming from the hot desert - many travelers buy tours to the northern areas of Russia to enjoy the beauty of the northern lights - Aurora Borealis.

Russia, especially now, is the unknown world with its mysterious allure that the Arabs want to get to know and understand. And the more foreign tourists discover the far away country, the incomprehensible Russia, the better they like it. That is why the Arabs come to Russia with pleasure, buy mobile SIM cards, open accounts in Russian banks, use the Mir bank-cards to avoid using cash. They enjoy the nature and climate of the Russian regions, visit various attractions, taste delicious food, enjoy entertainment and activities. They are surprised about the prices in Russia low for these tourists and get an energetic boost from Russia, actually, they get a charge out of traveling in Russia, gain new experience, and feel an adrenaline buzz.

And Russian travel companies are having a busy season now.