Russia and Saudi Arabia
Oil coordination and diplomatic contacts link two major energy producers. That coordination also takes place through OPEC+, with more participants. A visa-exemption agreement entered into force in May 2026, adding a specific civilian connection.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07OPEC+ is a multilateral mechanism
Saudi Arabia and Russia participate in oil coordination with other producers.
Production, prices and trade are different measures
The OPEC communication identifies participants and the review of market conditions.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 3,355.61 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / SAU |
| Goods: Russia to Saudi Arabia | 3,282.68 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / SAU |
| Goods: Saudi Arabia to Russia | 72.93 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / SAU |
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Russia to Saudi Arabia | ||
| Export share: Saudi Arabia to Russia | 0.02 % | 2025 · UN Comtrade / SAU |
| Investment stock: Russia in Saudi Arabia | ||
| Investment stock: Saudi Arabia in Russia |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / SAU · Goods; full year; SAU reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: Russia to Saudi Arabia
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / SAU · Goods; full year; SAU reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: Saudi Arabia to Russia
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / SAU · Goods; full year; SAU reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Export share: Saudi Arabia to Russia
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / SAU · Goods share: SAU exports to the partner / the same reporter's exports to the world, same year.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | Russia | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 2.59 trillion USDIMF est.2025 · IMF | 1.28 trillion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 17,972.12 USDIMF est.2025 · IMF | 34,536.66 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 1 %2025 · WB | 4.5 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | 14 %2026-09-11 · CBR | 4.5 %2026-09-16 · SAMA |
| Inflation · annual average | 8.72 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 2.08 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 6.33 %Year-on-year · Aug. 2026 · CBR | 1.8 %Headline CPI · 2026-08 · year-on-year · SAMA / GASTAT |
| Unemployment | 2.13 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 3.04 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -3.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -5.8 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 17.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 31.7 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 1.68 %2025 · WB | -2.56 %2025 · WB |
| Population | 143,997,000IMF est.2025 · IMF | 36,973,5552025 · WB |
| Area | 17,125,190 km²2023 · BM / FAO | 2,149,690 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
For Russia, GDP, population and GDP per capita are estimates from the same IMF (WEO) dataset for 2025. The per-capita figure published by the IMF is used, rather than a calculation of our own. The earlier World Bank series could not be reconciled and are not mixed with this dataset. Review: 2026-10-07. IMF data terms of use0
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDRussia: 2025 · Nominal GDP in current USD · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · IMF estimate (WEO). GDP, GDP per capita and population for this country come from the same WEO query for 2025; no separate GDP-per-capita figure has been calculated.Saudi Arabia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personRussia: 2025 · Nominal GDP per capita in current USD · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · IMF estimate (WEO). GDP, GDP per capita and population for this country come from the same WEO query for 2025; no separate GDP-per-capita figure has been calculated.Saudi Arabia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Russia: 2025 · World BankSaudi Arabia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)Russia: 2026-09-11 · Bank of Russia policy rate · Bank of RussiaSaudi Arabia: 2026-09-16 · Repo rate; not reverse repo (4.00%) · SAMA · Official central-bank decision; not a commercial lending rate or a bill yield.
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Russia: 2025 · Annual average change in CPI (%) · World BankSaudi Arabia: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedRussia: 2026-08 · Change in headline CPI from the same month of the previous year (%) · Bank of Russia · Published: 2026-09-16 · Year-on-year CPI. The commentary's 6.9% is annualised seasonally adjusted monthly growth and is not used here.Saudi Arabia: 2026-08 · Year-on-year inflation; official SAMA / GASTAT indicator · SAMA / GASTAT · August 2026 indicator verified in SAMA's indexed version. The dynamic homepage does not expose the value in HTML without JavaScript; publication date unavailable. · Alternative official source; verified 2026-10-07
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionRussia: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.Saudi Arabia: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, % of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Russia: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Saudi Arabia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Russia: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Saudi Arabia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPRussia: 2025 · World BankSaudi Arabia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Population
- PeopleRussia: 2025 · Population from the WEO series; do not mix with a denominator from another source · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · IMF estimate (WEO). GDP, GDP per capita and population for this country come from the same WEO query for 2025; no separate GDP-per-capita figure has been calculated.Saudi Arabia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query. Extrapolated assuming the same growth rate as the previous year.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceRussia: 2023 · Total area, including inland waters; territorial coverage as defined by the source · World Bank · FAOSaudi Arabia: 2023 · World Bank / FAO · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Russia to Saudi Arabia
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Mineral fuels and oils | 2,038.3 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 17.6 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 6.7 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 1.8 M USD2025 · Source |
| Land vehicles and components | 0 M USD2025 · Source |
Saudi Arabia to Russia
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 1.4 M USD2025 · Source |
Connections between people
Education, work, visits and community connections have their own records and procedures. Residents are not equivalent to annual arrivals, and visits may be repeated. The tables retain dates, definitions and sources to distinguish these connections from business contracts and government decisions. [2]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Russia living in Saudi Arabia | ||
| Residents from Saudi Arabia living in Russia | ||
| Study and training: Russia in Saudi Arabia | ||
| Study and training: Saudi Arabia in Russia | ||
| Academic stays: Russia in Saudi Arabia | ||
| Academic stays: Saudi Arabia in Russia | ||
| Travel: Russia to Saudi Arabia | ||
| Travel: Saudi Arabia to Russia |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
OPEC+ is a multilateral mechanism
Saudi Arabia and Russia participate in oil coordination with other producers. The 6 September 2026 meeting also included Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman to review the market. It is not an exclusively bilateral agreement. Production decisions are not equivalent to a purchase or sale of oil between the two countries or a guarantee of the global price. [1]
Production, prices and trade are different measures
The OPEC communication identifies participants and the review of market conditions. Agreed production, actual production and exports have independent records. This profile's customs data record bilateral trade, not all energy each country sells to the world. Sharing an oil mechanism does not imply agreement on all diplomatic decisions or a mutual defence obligation either. [1]
Visa exemption since May 2026
Saudi Press Agency announced the entry into force of the mutual exemption agreement on 11 May 2026. The measure seeks to facilitate tourism and cultural exchange. Its coverage and requirements belong to the instrument, not automatic authorisation for residence or any employment. An exemption reduces a formality but does not provide the number of travellers who actually travelled. [2]
The scale of the two economies
Russia recorded nominal GDP of 2,587.9 billion USD in 2025, compared with 1,276.9 in 2025 for Saudi Arabia. The reference populations were 144 million (2025) and 36.97 million (2025), respectively. In the same year, Russia's nominal GDP was 2.03 times Saudi Arabia's. These figures contextualise market size; they do not by themselves describe well-being, individual wealth or political influence. IMF estimates or population extrapolations retain their labels in the table. No ratio is calculated when periods do not match. [4] [5] [6] [7]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
Two connections with their own timelines
The May mobility agreement and September oil meeting show different areas of the relationship. Cooperation between producers has international effects, while visas affect eligible people. Annual economic values are presented as separate observations. Each country's oil volume is not used to estimate tourism or the value of the entire bilateral relationship. [2] [1]
Observed economic exchange
In 2025, recorded goods trade between Russia and Saudi Arabia totalled 3,355.6 million USD. Shipments from Russia to Saudi Arabia were 3,282.7 million USD; those in the reverse direction were 72.9 million USD. Saudi Arabia's shipments to the partner represented 0.02% of its goods exports to the world, using the same year and reporter. A single customs reporting source is used for both directions. This annual flow does not include all services activity or affiliates' local sales and is not added to accumulated investment capital. [3]
Milestones and consequences
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Each figure retains its period, unit, definition and source. Announcements, contracts and results are not interchangeable. Empty cells do not mean zero. Customs data for 2025 are not presented as activity observed during later crises.
- OPEC+ producers' meeting
OPEP · Institutional source · Document: 2026-09-06 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Entry into force of visa exemption
Saudi Press Agency · Institutional source · Document: 2026-05-11 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Annual TOTAL X/M; 2025; reporter 682; partners 0,643,784,634
UN Comtrade / SAU · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
IMF — World Economic Outlook · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; 2023–2025; country and period preserved; no military series
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
IMF — World Economic Outlook · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; 2023–2025; country and period preserved; no military series
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 27; 2025; reporter 682; partners 643,784,634; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / SAU · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 30; 2025; reporter 682; partners 643,784,634; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / SAU · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 84; 2025; reporter 682; partners 643,784,634; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / SAU · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 87; 2025; reporter 682; partners 643,784,634; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / SAU · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 85; 2025; reporter 682; unique partners; X/M; bounded retry after rate-limit cooldown
UN Comtrade / SAU · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
Additional sources on products and human connections
- UN Comtrade / SAU
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 27; 2025; reporter 682; partners 643,784,634; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / SAU
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 84; 2025; reporter 682; partners 643,784,634; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / SAU
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 85; 2025; reporter 682; unique partners; X/M; bounded retry after rate-limit cooldown.
- UN Comtrade / SAU
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 30; 2025; reporter 682; partners 643,784,634; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / SAU
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 87; 2025; reporter 682; partners 643,784,634; X/M; annual goods.