Russia and the UAE expand cooperation in the year of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations

Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, held a meeting with Mohammad Aljaber, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to the Russian Federation. The parties discussed the further development of trade, economic, investment and humanitarian cooperation, as well as joint initiatives in the year of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and the UAE.

The participants noted the dynamic development of Russian-Emirati relations, which are based on traditions of friendship and mutual respect, principles of equality and consideration of the interests of both countries. Constructive dialogue at the highest level remains the basis for strengthening bilateral ties, which is complemented by active contacts on intergovernmental, interparliamentary and interdepartmental lines, as well as interaction between organizations, regions and representatives of the business community.

"Over 55 years of diplomatic relations, Russia and the United Arab Emirates have formed a solid foundation for a long-term and mutually beneficial partnership. Today, our countries are united not only by a stable political dialogue and a growing trade turnover, but also by the desire to develop practical cooperation in the investment, energy, tourism and humanitarian spheres. It is important that cooperation is becoming more systematic, and representatives of the regions, youth, and small and medium-sized businesses are actively involved in joint work. I am confident that the implementation of new initiatives will give an additional impetus to Russian-Emirati relations," said Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation.

Special attention was paid during the meeting to the results of the UAE delegation's participation in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2026. It consisted of 107 people, including representatives of the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, private companies and business associations. The delegation was headed by the Minister of Economy and Tourism of the United Arab Emirates, Abdullah bin Tuq Al Marri.

Within the framework of SPIEF 2026, three events were organized with the participation of the UAE Embassy: the session "UAE–Russia Business Opportunities: partnership with SMEs", the Russia-UAE business dialogue, as well as the discussion "Youth as a bridge to strengthen economic cooperation between the UAE and Russia". During the youth session, video messages from the UAE Ambassador and the UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism were presented on the role of the new generation in the development of bilateral cooperation.

In 2026, the composition of the Emirati delegation was expanded to include representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises. 18 representatives of this sector took part in the SPIEF. A separate program was prepared for them, which included a profile session with a presentation of the initiatives of Emirati companies, meetings in the B2B format, as well as visits to the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region. The parties expressed interest in further expanding the participation of small and medium-sized businesses in Russian-Emirati business events.

"The participation of the United Arab Emirates delegation in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum this year confirmed the high interest of the Emirati business in developing cooperation with Russian partners. It is especially important for us that the dialogue covers not only large companies, but also small and medium-sized businesses, youth initiatives, tourism and investment projects. We intend to continue this work within the framework of upcoming international events in Russia and hope that new meetings and joint initiatives will further strengthen relations between our countries," said Mohammad Aljaber, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to the Russian Federation.

Another topic of the meeting was the development of cooperation in the field of tourism. The participants highly appreciated the holding of the dialogue "Russia – UAE: a success story" within the framework of the Russian Travel Forum "Travel!". It was noted that tourist exchanges contribute not only to economic development, but also to strengthening trust, cultural and humanitarian ties between the peoples of the two countries. The parties discussed the possibility of giving the Russian-Emirati tourism session an annual status.

Representatives of the UAE are also invited to participate in the Eastern Economic Forum, which will be held on September 1-4, 2026 in Vladivostok.

Separately, the parties discussed the possible participation of UAE representatives in the International Forum "Falcon Day", which traditionally takes place within the framework of the WEF. Falconry is an important part of the cultural heritage and national identity of the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is also involved in international initiatives for the conservation of rare falconry species and is among the signatories of the Framework Declaration of Intent for the Conservation of the Gyrfalcon Population.

Prospects for the development of cooperation in the fuel and energy sector were also discussed during the meeting. The Emirati side is invited to participate in the Russian Energy Week, which will be held on October 14-16, 2026 in Moscow. The participation of representatives of relevant government agencies and the UAE business will allow us to continue the dialogue on promising areas of energy cooperation and establish new contacts with Russian organizations.

In addition, the UAE Embassy has been invited to participate in the Russian-Arab Economic Forum, which is scheduled to be held in Moscow. The new platform is designed to enhance the economic dialogue between Russia and the Arab countries, promote the removal of trade barriers, the development of direct business contacts and the preparation of investment agreements.