Dubai: Bulat Nurmukhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, said that Moscow welcomes around 26 million tourists per year. "By 2030, we expect this number to exceed 50 million," said Nurmukhanov in an interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during a media gathering in Dubai. Nurmukhanov underscored the rapid rise in tourism from the UAE to Moscow and the city's strategic plans for the future.

According to Emirates News Agency, Nurmukhanov emphasized the Gulf region, especially the UAE, as a key market for Moscow, expressing eagerness to see more Emirati visitors making Moscow a regular destination. He highlighted Moscow's growing engagement with the Middle East and its ambitious vision for tourism development. The rise in tourism flow from the United Arab Emirates to Moscow has been significant, with over 40,000 tourists from the UAE visiting in the first nine months of the previous year, compared to just 5,000 in 2022.

The Moscow delegation, which included representatives from the federal government of Russia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed deep appreciation for their Arab partners. Nurmukhanov conveyed gratitude towards Arab businesses, Emirati travel operators, and stakeholders actively collaborating with the Russian market, particularly with Moscow.

Looking ahead, Moscow's tourism strategy aligns with ambitious targets set by the city's leadership. Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has outlined a goal to double the annual number of tourists visiting Moscow by 2030. The Moscow City Tourism Committee is actively working to enhance cultural and economic ties between Russia and the GCC region, seeing the strengthening of these tourism links as an essential step in expanding bilateral relations across multiple sectors.

As Moscow continues to position itself as a premier global travel destination, the collaboration between Russia and the UAE is set to reach new heights, fostering stronger tourism, business, and cultural exchanges in the years ahead.