Rais of Tatarstan: We attach big attention to development of cooperation with Saudi Arabia

On 6 September, speaking at his meeting with the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia Tauwiq bin Fausan Al-Rabiah in the Government House of the republic, the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov thanked the Minister for his visiting Kazan. He emphasized that Saudi Arabia is an important partner of Russia. “We have developing relations practically in all spheres. Leadership of our countries have regular meetings and phone conversations. We have stable and extremely good relations in political interaction, economy and humanitarian sphere,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.

He reminded that in 2026 there will be the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our country and Saudi Arabia and that the USSR was the first country to acknowledge the independence of the Saudi state.

Rustam Minnikhanov stated that Tatarstan attaches big attention to the development of cooperation with Saudi Arabia within the framework of Russia-Saudi Arabia relations and informed about regular exchange of delegations and his visit to Jidda last year. He also reminded about a regular meeting of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia-the Islamic World,” held in Jidda in 2021, the visit of the Head of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies his Royal Highness Prince Turki AlFaisal to Kazan in June of the current year and a delegation from Saudi Arabia which traditionally takes part in the Kazan Forum.

“We think that further development of economic and investments relations is very important. There are also good opportunities for interaction in the spheres of energetics and agriculture. Tatarsan is a pilot region for implementation of Islamic banking projects in Russia - we can also work together here, and the republic also attaches big attention to the development of Halal industry as it is a very important sphere with more than 20m Muslims living in Russia. To export Halal products to foreign markets we work together with the Gulf countries in issues of accreditation that is why interaction with Saudi certification centers is important for us,” the Rais of the republic said.

In addition he listed the products which Tatarstan would like to export to Saudi Arabia and told about work done in Islamic education by the Russian Islamic University and Bolgar Islamic Academy in the republic. 

Having stated that the role of traditional confessions of Islam and Orthodox is growing, Rustam Minnikhanov said: “Today their authority and active positions are a serious barrier to spreading of extremism and religious radicalism.” 

Having expressed his special thanks to the Minister for the attention given to Tatarstan delegations and pilgrims during Hajj-and the number of them makes 1 800 people every year - , the Rais of the republic said that the planned opening the Saudi Arabia General Consulate in Kazan will substantially ease the visa services of tourists and pilgrims and stated that there is a need in direct flights between Tatarstan and Saudi Arabia. 

This year Saudi Arabia has become an official BRICS member and Rustam Minnikhanov added:” This October the capital of our republic hosts the Summit of heads of BRICS countries and we are waiting a high delegation from your country also to come”. 

In his turn Tauwiq bin Fausan Al-Rabiah thanked Rustam Minnikhanov for the extended hospitality and said: “Our countries really have deep historical ties. It is my first visit as a Minister to Russia, including Tatarstan, and I am deeply impressed by what I have seen. Tatarstan is a region with rich history and substantial achievements. We can see a big potential of cooperation in the petrochemical and Halal spheres and in number of other industries. Opening direct flights will strengthen our relations even more. There is a working group dealing with this issue and these flights are important not just for pilgrims – Tatarstan can become a point of attraction for tourists from Saudi Arabia.” 

During his visit to Kazan Tauwiq bin Fausan Al-Rabiah goes to the Kazan Kremlin, the Kul Sharif Mosque and the Museum of Islam and he will also take a walk along the embankment and visit the Rameev IT Park.