Relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Saudi Arabia

On January 11, 1992, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recognized the independence of the Republic of Tajikistan. On February 22, 1992, diplomatic relations were established between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Riyadh was opened in September 2008. The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Dushanbe was opened in 2010.

The President of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Leader of the Nation Emomali Rahmon has paid five official and working visits (1997, 2001, 2005, 2016 and 2017) to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which play a key and influential role in the development of bilateral relations. During these visits the President of the Republic of Tajikistan met with the King and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, as well as other high-ranking officials of that country.

The following bilateral visits are witnessing high-level political contacts: the official visit of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Prince Saud Al-Faisal to Tajikistan in 1992, the visit of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs H.Zarifi to Riyadh in 2007, the official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin to Saudi Arabia in 2014 and the visit of former Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Azim Ibrahim to Riyadh (January 25, 2015).

The virtual participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Faisal ibn Farhan at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan in the "Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process" Conference, held March 30, 2021 in Dushanbe and demonstrated the mutual interest of the parties in the process of ensuring peace, stability and reconstruction in Afghanistan.

Inter-parliamentary cooperation between Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia is one of the important tools of bilateral relations. On this basis, on May 24-26, 2016, the Chairman of the Majlisi Shura of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Ali Sheikh paid an official visit to the Republic of Tajikistan. The return visit of the former Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan to Saudi Arabia was held on January 21, 2017.

On May 20, 2017, a Summit of Arab-Muslim and American States was held in Riyadh, which was attended by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, who addressed a meeting with several heads of Muslim states.

The establishment of a Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Cooperation is a particularly important in process of expanding cooperation. The first meeting of the Commission was held on August 28-29, 2013 in Dushanbe. The Business Council was established as a coordinating tool for private sector cooperation between the two countries. Also, on April 1-4, 2018, the second session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Cooperation between Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia was held in Riyadh and in its framework two business forums were held in Riyadh and Jeddah.

The Republic of Tajikistan has established fruitful cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank and the Saudi Fund for Development in the areas of health and education, road infrastructure, energy, agriculture and others.

Cultural, humanitarian and educational ties are an important factor in strengthening cooperation. On May 5-9, 2018 Cultural days of Saudi Arabia were held in Tajikistan.

The official visit of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Saudi Arabia Prince Abdulaziz ibn Saud to Tajikistan in November 2018 and his meetings with the President of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation Mr. Emomali Rahmon and other high-ranking officials is an important factor in further cooperation between law enforcement agencies of both sides. In the framework of the Bilateral Agreement on Cooperation in the Fight against Crime and other multilateral international instruments, the two countries have established cooperation and coordination in the field of security and the fight against terrorism, extremism and other undesirable phenomena.