A roundtable discussion was held on Sunday, 8 February 2026, at the Russian House in Jeddah to mark one hundred years since the establishment of Saudi–Russian relations. The session was attended by H.E. Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation, along with his accompanying delegation.

The discussion brought together Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja, former Saudi Minister of Information and the Kingdom’s first Ambassador to Russia, and Dr. Muhammad Al-Yami, Director-General of the Union of News Agencies of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (UNA).

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), also took part in the session. In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of Saudi–Russian relations and underscored their advanced model of international partnership built on mutual respect and shared interests.

The session reviewed the history of relations between the two countries. H.E. Rais Minnikhanov emphasized their deep historical roots and steady development across various fields. Dr. AlMalik also noted the distinguished status of the city of Kazan within the Islamic world, reflected in its designation as the Cultural Capital in the Islamic World for this year, highlighting its cultural, civilizational, and historical significance.