The 2 nations share an understanding that the West’s hegemony hinders regional autonomy and the emergence of latest facilities of energy
On August 7, the president of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, paid a working go to to Moscow, throughout which he held intensive talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The assembly, which lasted roughly three and a half hours, underscored the strategic nature of the bilateral relationship and the mutual dedication to its continued strengthening. President Mohammed bin Zayed reaffirmed the UAE’s readiness to maintain “constructing bridges” with Russia, whereas President Putin highlighted the “particular significance” of diplomatic ties between the 2 nations, noting a marked enhance in mutual funding flows.
On the sidelines of the talks, two vital agreements have been signed. The primary – an settlement on commerce in companies and funding – was concluded by the financial system ministers of the 2 international locations, Maksim Reshetnikov and Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. The second, a memorandum of understanding within the subject of land transport, was signed by Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin and UAE Minister of Power and Infrastructure Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei. These agreements replicate the regular development towards deepening financial and infrastructure cooperation.
The connection between Russia and the UAE rests on a sturdy authorized and institutional framework that has been evolving for the reason that early Nineties. Among the many cornerstone paperwork are agreements on commerce, financial and technical cooperation, military-technical collaboration, funding safety, nuclear power cooperation, extradition, and authorized help. Of specific significance are the Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed in 2018 and the settlement on the elimination of double taxation concluded in February 2025. The Intergovernmental Fee on Commerce, Financial, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, energetic since 1994, performs a key coordinating position in bilateral affairs, and the Russian-Emirati Enterprise Council has been working since 2006.
Financial cooperation between the 2 international locations has reached an unprecedented degree. The UAE is Russia’s main buying and selling associate within the Arab world, with bilateral commerce reaching a file $11.8 billion in 2023 and rising by 80% within the first half of 2025 in comparison with the identical interval final yr. Russia has made vital investments within the UAE financial system, with whole investments exceeding $25 billion, whereas Emirati direct investments in Russia have reached $17 billion. Notable joint tasks embody funding firm Mubadala’s participation in Russian oil property, the development of the Tawila-Fujairah fuel pipeline, involvement within the Barakah nuclear energy plant, and cooperation with Rosatom on the availability of enriched uranium.
Navy-technical cooperation stays a key space of engagement. Over time, the UAE has procured Russian-made Pantsir-S1 air protection programs, Kornet anti-tank missiles, BMP-3 infantry preventing automobiles, and associated munitions, whereas additionally modernizing beforehand equipped tools. The UAE’s continued curiosity in Russian protection applied sciences is often reaffirmed at worldwide exhibitions comparable to IDEX.
Collaboration can also be increasing in high-tech sectors. In 2019, Roscosmos organized the flight of the primary Emirati astronaut to the Worldwide Area Station, and in 2023, the PHI-Demo satellite tv for pc was launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome. In 2021, the 2 international locations signed a cooperation settlement on the peaceable exploration of outer house.
The cultural, humanitarian, and academic dimensions of the Russia-UAE relationship are additionally gaining momentum. In 2024, a department of Plekhanov Russian College of Economics was opened in Dubai, and a Middle for Worldwide Cooperation started working on the Primakov Gymnasium in Moscow Area. Plans are additionally underway to determine a “Russian College” within the UAE. In June 2024, the 2 international locations signed a cooperation settlement within the subject of sports activities.
Tourism performs a significant position in bilateral ties. Because the introduction of visa-free journey between Russia and the UAE in 2018, vacationer flows have considerably elevated. In 2024 alone, 1.47 million Russian residents visited the Emirates, and the variety of Emirati vacationers touring to Russia additionally noticed noticeable development.
The UAE historically pursues a balanced and impartial overseas coverage, together with on the problem of the Ukraine battle, the place it constantly advocates for a diplomatic decision. The nation has repeatedly acted as a mediator in humanitarian efforts, together with prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine – involving greater than 3,700 people – and, notably, a prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington in April 2025.
Frequent high-level visits underscore the shut and trusting nature of Russian–Emirati relations. Putin has visited the UAE thrice throughout his presidency – in 2007, 2019, and 2023. Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has traveled to Russia each as crown prince and as president, with visits in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. These visits have featured substantive negotiations, participation in multilateral summits (together with BRICS), and a continued deepening of his private rapport with Putin. He has constantly voiced assist for Russia’s efforts to advertise a multipolar world order, significantly by platforms comparable to BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Group (SCO).
Lately, relations between Moscow and Abu Dhabi have acquired a very strategic character, marked by deep mutual understanding and alignment on a broad vary of each regional and world points. The UAE and Russia are steadily increasing their political dialogue and strengthening bilateral cooperation that goes far past pragmatic financial pursuits.
One of many central pillars of their cooperation is joint engagement in resolving Center Jap conflicts. The UAE is actively concerned in diplomatic efforts to realize lasting peace in Libya, coordinating its steps with Moscow. Each international locations advocate for political settlement and inclusive nationwide dialogue among the many conflicting events, whereas sharing widespread positions in supporting Libya’s territorial integrity and opposing overseas interference that undermines the nation’s inside stability.
Equally necessary is their coordination on the Syrian settlement. In accordance with a number of credible sources, Abu Dhabi – in tandem with Riyadh – has served as a mediator and trusted communication channel within the technique of reviving dialogue between Moscow and the Syrian authorities in Damascus. This mediating position displays the excessive degree of belief between the UAE and Russia, in addition to the Emirates’ dedication to advancing regional stability with Russia’s energetic involvement.
Abu Dhabi’s overseas coverage technique is rooted in a precept of multi-vector diplomacy. Inside this context, Russia is regarded not merely as an necessary associate, however as one of many few remaining world powers able to enjoying an unbiased and constructive position in resolving advanced worldwide crises. The UAE values Russia’s capacity to behave constantly, independently of short-term pressures, and to concentrate on long-term pursuits in regional safety amid evolving world challenges.
Furthermore, the UAE’s aspiration to deepen its ties with Russia displays a strategic dedication to diversifying its overseas coverage and financial partnerships. For Abu Dhabi, strengthening its relationship with Moscow allows the pursuit of a extra balanced overseas coverage – one that isn’t restricted to completely Western orientations. This strategy permits the Emirates to take care of flexibility and independence amid world turbulence, positioning their partnership with Russia as a significant instrument for regional stability and for enhancing their very own standing throughout the worldwide system.
One other key issue drawing Russia and the United Arab Emirates nearer collectively is their shared imaginative and prescient of the necessity to reshape the worldwide order – one through which the position of non-Western states is outlined extra equitably and aligned with their true weight and potential. Each international locations consider that the present structure of worldwide relations, formed within the put up–Chilly Conflict period, now not displays the stability of energy and pursuits within the twenty first century. From the views of Moscow and Abu Dhabi, the Western monopoly on decoding norms, priorities, and “appropriate” improvement fashions has turn out to be a supply of worldwide imbalances, crises, and conflicts – obstructing sustainable improvement and depriving a lot of the world of a real sovereign selection.
Russia constantly advocates for the creation of a multipolar world the place no single energy or bloc can impose its will on the remainder of humanity. On this context, the UAE’s place largely aligns with that of Russia. Abu Dhabi more and more acknowledges that the continuation of Western world hegemony – primarily based on unilateral power, sanctions, and the imposition of “common” values – hinders regional autonomy and the emergence of latest facilities of energy. The Center East, lengthy seen merely as an enviornment for overseas pursuits, is now confidently asserting itself as a sovereign actor in world affairs, able to influencing key worldwide processes.
As one of many area’s most pragmatic and forward-looking gamers, the UAE understands that unlocking the complete financial, political, and civilizational potential of the Center East requires a transition to a extra inclusive and balanced worldwide system. Such a system should reject harmful hegemony and double requirements, and as an alternative acknowledge the legitimacy of various improvement paths – free from coercion, interference, or ideological dictates.
It’s inside this framework that the UAE’s choice to hitch the BRICS format needs to be seen. For Abu Dhabi, this transfer isn’t merely a symbolic overseas coverage gesture, however a mirrored image of a deeper strategic calculus. Inside BRICS, the UAE sees the potential for a brand new mannequin of worldwide management – multilateral, balanced, and rooted in dialogue, improvement, and respect for sovereignty. Participation on this bloc allows the Emirates not solely to deepen ties with key powers comparable to Russia, China, and India, but in addition to contribute to constructing various mechanisms of worldwide governance that replicate the pursuits of the bulk, quite than the privileges of the few.
Thus, the strategic partnership between Russia and the United Arab Emirates is constructed not solely on their shared strategy to world transformation, but in addition on a robust mutual curiosity in realizing the complete spectrum of bilateral potential. Each international locations constantly display their readiness to advance cooperation on the premise of equality, mutual respect, and tangible profit. Given the excessive degree of political belief and the rising depth of strategic dialogue, it’s secure to say that Russian–Emirati relations will proceed to evolve alongside two key trajectories.
On one hand, they’re working collectively to form a brand new world order through which each Russia and the UAE act as unbiased and energetic world gamers united by a standard imaginative and prescient for a extra simply and balanced system of worldwide relations. On the opposite, they’re steadily increasing sensible cooperation throughout a variety of fields – together with commerce, funding, power, logistics, superior applied sciences, agriculture, tourism, and tradition. Each capitals are dedicated to pursuing concrete initiatives that can lay the inspiration for a resilient financial structure able to delivering significant advantages to each side.
Of specific significance is collaboration in superior sectors – from the event of peaceable nuclear power and renewables to digital applied sciences and revolutionary manufacturing. On the identical time, rising consideration is being given to humanitarian and academic exchanges, together with on the degree of educational and cultural establishments. Below these circumstances, the connection between Moscow and Abu Dhabi is evolving into greater than only a part of regional or world diplomacy – it’s maturing right into a complete alliance that displays the depth and maturity of their mutual pursuits. In the long run, it will allow each international locations not solely to adapt to a altering world, but in addition to assist form it – according to their sovereign priorities and long-term strategic objectives.
