The legal framework governing UAE–Russia relations comprises approximately 30 bilateral agreements and instruments, including the Strategic Partnership Agreement in the oil and gas sector (2010), the Agreement on Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (2012), the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the two countries (2018), agreements on cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space (2021), and agreements on the avoidance of double taxation, trade in services, and investment (2025).
Economic cooperation is coordinated through the UAE–Russia Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation, established in 1994, with its twelfth meeting held in Dubai in December 2025.
Today, the UAE is Russia’s leading trading partner in the Arab world. Over the past five years, bilateral trade has increased nearly sixfold, with Abu Dhabi emerging as Moscow’s principal economic partner in the region. Trade relations continue to diversify, particularly through the growth of Russian agricultural exports, which have witnessed increasing demand in the UAE market. In 2025, bilateral trade volume reached approximately USD 12 billion, while trade in agricultural products alone amounted to around USD 400 million.
Russia is among the UAE’s key suppliers of petroleum products, bitumen mixtures, gold and precious metals, grains, legumes, and meat products. Meanwhile, Russian imports from the UAE primarily consist of machinery and components, vehicles, and electrical equipment.
According to figures announced by Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov in April 2025, UAE foreign direct investment in Russia reached USD 17 billion in 2024, while Russian investments in the UAE exceeded USD 25 billion. Russian capital is concentrated in sectors including real estate, transport and logistics, information technology, finance, and insurance.
The growing economic partnership is also reflected in the expanding presence of Russian businesses in the UAE. According to UAE Minister of Economy H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the number of companies established in the UAE by Russian nationals reached 13,500, with approximately 2,000 new business licenses issued during 2025 alone.
The UAE has maintained its position as the leading Arab destination for Russian tourists. By the end of 2025, the country had welcomed approximately 2.4 million Russian visitors. Between 2022 and 2024, the UAE ranked as the second most visited destination worldwide for Russian tourists. At the same time, the number of Emirati visitors to Russia increased by 54 percent in 2024, reaching 67,000 travelers—the highest figure among Gulf countries.
Air connectivity between the two countries continues to expand, with approximately 325 scheduled flights operating weekly between the UAE and Russia, serving 25 destinations through Emirati and Russian carriers. Including charter services, the total number of weekly flights reaches nearly 660. Recent years have also witnessed a steady rise in the number of Emirati tourists visiting Russia, with expectations that the country will continue to strengthen its position among the preferred travel destinations for UAE nationals.
The UAE’s prominence within the Russian business community has likewise continued to grow. In December 2025, Dubai hosted the first Russia–UAE Business Forum, bringing together more than 500 representatives from leading companies, investment funds, government entities, and technology startups from both countries. Particular attention was given to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Russia–UAE Business Council and the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), aimed at enhancing bilateral trade, facilitating re-export operations through logistics cooperation, and positioning RAKEZ as a strategic gateway for Russian companies seeking access to the UAE market and beyond.
