Kuwaiti Passport Holders May Join Gulf States With Visa-Free Russia Entry

Russia is holding talks with Kuwait and Bahrain on introducing visa-free entry, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Borisenko has said. No start date has been announced, and the arrangements are not yet in effect for either country.

Key facts

• Visa-free entry is under discussion between Russia and both Kuwait and Bahrain
• Visa-free travel is already in place with Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates
• Existing arrangements cover holders of ordinary passports
• No start date, stay length or other conditions have been announced for Kuwait or Bahrain

What is being discussed?

Borisenko said work continues with Bahrain and Kuwait on implementing a visa-free regime. He noted that such arrangements are already in effect with Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates for holders of ordinary passports, and expressed the hope that Bahrain and Kuwait would follow their regional partners.

Who would be affected?

The talks concern ordinary passport holders travelling between Russia and the two Gulf states. The source does not specify which nationalities would benefit, how long travellers could stay, or whether the arrangements would cover tourism, business or both.

When would visa-free travel start?

No timeline has been given. The source describes the visa-free regimes with Kuwait and Bahrain as work in progress rather than agreed policy, and provides no target date for signing or entry into force.

What is the current travel context?

More than 35,000 Russian tourists visit Bahrain each year, supported by growing direct flight connections, the source notes. For Kuwait, no separate figure for Russian visitors travelling directly is officially published, though overall tourism exchanges between Russia and Kuwait have grown significantly.

Bilateral trade is also cited as context: Russia-Bahrain trade is about US$115 million, having grown by about 15% during 2025, while Russia-Kuwait trade is valued at about US$1.7 billion and grew in both 2025 and 2026.

What this means for travellers

Travellers holding ordinary passports can already enter Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates visa-free under arrangements with Russia. For Kuwait and Bahrain, visas remain necessary until an agreement is announced, so travellers should check current entry requirements before booking.

Further updates are expected as the discussions with Bahrain and Kuwait progress. No dates to watch have been announced.