Rais of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov recently met with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfig bin Fawzan AlRabiah, in Kazan.
During the meeting, Minnikhanov expressed gratitude for the minister's visit and emphasized the importance of Saudi Arabia as a key partner for Russia, noting the countries' strong ties in political, economic, and humanitarian spheres. He highlighted that Tatarstan places significant importance on furthering these relations, which include a regular exchange of delegations and cooperation in various sectors.
Minnikhanov noted that 2026 will mark the centenary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia. He highlighted that the Soviet Union was the first country to recognize Saudi Arabia's independence. The first diplomat to deliver a formal note from the Soviet government to King Abdulaziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia, was Karim Abdraufovich Khakimov, a Tatar and Russia’s consul in the Hejaz region.
Minnikhanov stressed that Tatarstan places great importance on developing cooperation with Saudi Arabia as part of the broader Russian-Saudi relations. He mentioned the regular exchange of delegations between the two regions, recalling his own visit to Jeddah last year. In 2021, Jeddah also hosted the latest session of the Group of Strategic “Russia – Islamic World”. In June of this year, Tatarstan welcomed Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the head of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies. Saudi Arabian delegations have also been regular participants in the “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum.”
“We consider it crucial to further develop economic and investment ties. There are excellent opportunities for cooperation in energy and agriculture. Tatarstan is also a pilot region for implementing Islamic banking projects in Russia, and we could collaborate with Saudi Arabia in this area as well. Additionally, our republic is placing great emphasis on the development of the halal industry. With over 20 million Muslims living in Russia, this is a significant sector. To ensure the export of halal products to international markets, we are working closely with Gulf countries on accreditation. Cooperation with Saudi certification centers is vital for us in this regard,” Minnikhanov pointed out.
Tatarstan is also eager to supply a variety of goods to Saudi Arabia, including KAMAZ vehicles, helicopters, cargo-passenger vessels, petrochemical products, mineral fertilizers, oil and gas extraction equipment, gas turbines, gas-pumping equipment, refrigeration equipment, foodstuffs, agricultural products, as well as medical and pharmaceutical goods.
Minnikhanov emphasized that Tatarstan is the northernmost part of the Muslim world. In 922, the local Volga Bulgars adopted Islam as their state religion. Today, Tatarstan operates a comprehensive, four-tier system of Islamic religious education, which includes courses at mosques, madrasas, the Russian Islamic Institute, Kazan Islamic University, and the Bulgarian Islamic Academy. The academy focuses on training highly qualified specialists in Islamic studies.
He further highlighted the increasing social role of traditional faiths, particularly Islam and Orthodox Christianity, in modern society. “Their authority and active roles today serve as a strong barrier against the spread of extremism and religious radicalism,” Minnikhanov remarked.
Minnikhanov also expressed his gratitude to the minister for the attention given to delegations from Tatarstan, especially in facilitating pilgrimages for Hajj. In recent years, the quota for pilgrims from Tatarstan has been set at 1,800 people. The rais noted that the planned opening of Saudi Arabia’s consulate general in Kazan will greatly simplify the visa process for both pilgrims and tourists. He also underscored the importance of establishing direct flights between Tatarstan and Saudi Arabia.
This year, Saudi Arabia became an official member of BRICS. Throughout the year, Kazan has hosted several major events under Russia’s
BRICS presidency. “In October, our republic's capital will host the BRICS Summit, and we look forward to welcoming a high-level delegation from your country,” Minnikhanov added.
Tawfig bin Fawzan AlRabiah expressed his appreciation for Minnikhanov’s hospitality, stating, “Our countries indeed share deep historical ties. This is my first visit as a minister to Russia, including Tatarstan, and I am very impressed with what I’ve seen. Tatarstan is a region with a rich history and significant achievements. We see great potential for cooperation in the oil and gas sectors, the halal industry, and several other areas. The establishment of direct flights will further strengthen our ties. There is already a working group handling this matter. These flights are not only important for pilgrims – Tatarstan could also become a major tourist destination for visitors from Saudi Arabia,” said the minister of Hajj and Umrah.
During his visit to Kazan, Tawfig bin Fawzan AlRabiah will visit several key cultural and business sites, including the Kazan Kremlin, the Kul Sharif Mosque, the Islamic Museum, the city's embankment, and the IT Park named after B. Rameev.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the Rais RT
Based on materials from the Press Service of the Rais RT