History of diplomatic relations
Saudi Arabia recognised the Republic of Estonia on 16 September 1991. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 21 March 2003.
Estonia’s first Ambassador to Saudi Arabia was Jaan Reinhold, who served from 2021 to 2024. The current Estonian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia is Maria Belovas, who presented her credentials on 30 September 2025. The Ambassador resides in Abu Dhabi.
The first Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Estonia was Dr Faisal Ghulam, residing in Helsinki, who served from 2018 to 2023. The current Saudi Arabian Ambassador, Nesreen Hamad Alshebel, presented her credentials to President Alar Karis on 3 July 2023. The Ambassador resides in Helsinki.
In September 2023, the Estonia–Saudi Arabia Parliamentary Group was established in the Riigikogu and has four members. The Saudi Arabian Parliament’s Estonia–Saudi Arabia Friendship Group has 12 members and is chaired by Dr Esa Rfaiay Alotaibi.
Bilateral relations
To Estonia
- Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud (July 2024)
- Minister of Education Yousef Al Benyan (May 2024)
- Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al Jasser (May 2024)
- Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al Ibrahim (October 2023)
- Minister of Investment Khalid Al Falih (June 2023)
- Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al Ibrahim (April 2022)
To Saudi Arabia
- Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta at the LEAP technology conference (September 2026)
- Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur at the World Defense Show (February 2026)
- Minister of Energy and the Environment Andres Sutt at the Circular Economy Forum (December 2025)
- Auditor General Janar Holm at the 20th Symposium of Supreme Audit Institutions (November 2025)
- Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna (September 2025)
- Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta at the LEAP technology conference (February 2025)
- Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo at Biban24 (November 2024)
- Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology Tiit Riisalo at the World Economic Forum (April 2024) and the LEAP technology conference (February 2024)
- Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur at the World Defense Show (February 2024)
- Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Andres Sutt (October 2021)
- Minister of Foreign Affairs Sven Mikser (May 2018)
- Estonian food sector delegation at a food trade fair in Jeddah (November 2025)
- President Alar Karis met with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al Ibrahim (Davos, World Economic Forum, May 2022)
- Minister of Foreign Affairs Eva-Maria Liimets and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud (New York, UN General Assembly, September 2021)
- Prime Minister Jüri Ratas and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel Al Jubeir (New York, UN General Assembly, September 2018)
The Estonia–Saudi Arabia Business Council was established in April 2024.
In October 2024, Gulf market strategies commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were completed with support from the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility. The strategies provide Estonian exporters with recommendations for entering the markets of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The Saudi Arabia strategy covers, among other topics, Saudi Vision 2030 and economic diversification, and highlights information technology, green energy, the food sector and the maritime sector as potential areas of cooperation.
The General Cooperation Agreement between Estonia and Saudi Arabia, signed in September 2025, also provides a framework for developing long-term economic, trade and investment cooperation.
Estonian companies are contributing to preparations for Expo 2030 in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the areas of digital infrastructure, smart governance and sustainable urban development.
For more detailed information on trade with Saudi Arabia, see the Statistics Estonia application.
General Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (2025).
Treaties between Estonia and Saudi Arabia can be found in Riigi Teataja.