As the official representation of Switzerland, the embassy covers all matters concerning diplomatic relations between the two countries. It represents Swiss interests in the areas of political, economic and financial affairs, legal arrangements, science, education and culture.
The tasks of the embassy
The embassy supports cooperation between Switzerland and the host country. In this respect, close contact with the respective ministries of economic affairs is important. Bilateral meetings organised by the embassy are used to strengthen relations between Switzerland and the host country.
The embassy promotes the Swiss economy in the host country, Swiss exports and tourism. It establishes contacts with Swiss businesses and provides them with general information concerning the economy of the host country. The embassy monitors the economic and political situation in the country and communicates developments that are of interest to Switzerland.
The embassy fosters collaboration in the areas of science, technology and education with the aim of strengthening cooperation between the two countries in terms of research and innovation. It promotes the exchange of ideas between scientific institutions and universities. It also supports Swiss students in the host country and tries to encourage qualified students from the host country to study in Switzerland.
In terms of culture, the embassy aims to promote mutual understanding in its work to implement Swiss cultural policy. It strengthens contacts with – and between – relevant cultural institutions of Switzerland and the host country, and also with artists, for example supporting Swiss artists who would like to show their work abroad. Events organised or supported by the embassy should highlight Switzerland's commitment to culture and help build bridges between different cultures.
With regard to the media, the embassy acts as an interface between the Swiss government and the official representations in the host country and the national and international media in the host country. It supports the work of journalists working for Swiss media.
What we do
The Consular and Administrative Services' section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Riyadh acts as a link between the Swiss residing in the Embassy's consular district and their home country for registration, issuance of passports and other documents of identification, assistance to Swiss in need, etc. Furthermore, the section issues visa for applicants residing in the Embassy's consular district (except the Sultanate of Oman) wishing to travel to Switzerland and fulfils the administrative functions within the Embassy's operations such as accounting, human resources, safety issues, contingency plan and technical maintenance.
