Bilateral relations
Saudi Arabia–Uzbekistan relations are the bilateral diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, which were established in February 1992.
Saudi Arabia recognized the independence of Uzbekistan on 30 December 1991.[1] Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in February 1992.[1]
In April 1992, President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov paid an official visit to Saudi Arabia.[1] In November 1992, the Consulate General of Uzbekistan began operating in Jeddah. In 1995, the Embassy of Uzbekistan was opened in Riyadh.[1] Since 1997, the Embassy of Saudi Arabia has been operating in Tashkent.[1]
In April 2012, a Saudi delegation led by the Chairman of the Shura Council, Abdullah Al ash-Sheikh, visited Uzbekistan. In May 2017, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, at the invitation of King Salman, participated in the Arab Islamic–American Summit held in Saudi Arabia.
In March 2018, a Saudi delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs A. S. Mirdad took part in the Tashkent Conference on Afghanistan.[1]
In January 2019, a delegation from Uzbekistan led by Z. Akramov, Chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs under the Government of Uzbekistan, visited Saudi Arabia.[2]
In August 2022, Mirziyoyev visited Saudi Arabia and awarded King Salman the first Order of Muhammad al-Bukhari.[3]
On 29 September 2022, during a meeting between a Saudi delegation and Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, an agreement was reached to double the Hajj quota for citizens of Uzbekistan to 24,000 people.[4] From 1 January 2023, Uzbekistan introduced a visa-free regime for citizens of Saudi Arabia for stays of up to 30 days.[5]
In July 2023, the Central Asia–Gulf Cooperation Council Summit was held in Jeddah, with the participation of President Mirziyoyev.[6]
