UAE-Russia Partnership Under Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed
In the past three years, the trade between Russia and the United Arab Emirates has surged tripling in volume according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He highlighted this robust partnership during a recent meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Despite a slight decrease in trade during the first seven months of this year, Putin emphasized that the overall relationship between the two nations remains strong. He noted that mutual investments have reached an impressive $7 billion, with both countries’ sovereign funds collaborating on around 60 projects valued at $2 billion.
Russia considers the UAE a vital trade partner in the Arab world. The countries engage in a reciprocal exchange of goods, with Russia exporting gold, diamonds, and oil products, while importing passenger cars, machinery, and agricultural equipment from the UAE.
A Brief History of Diplomatic Relations
The diplomatic ties between Russia and the UAE have a long history. According to the official UAE’s foreign ministry website, a brief highlight of key moments from the history:
| December 1971 | The UAE was established in the year and the diplomatic relations were initiated soon after. |
| January 1972 | A Soviet delegation visited the Emirates, leading to agreements to establish ambassador-level diplomatic missions. |
| November 1985 | Official bilateral relations were announced at the embassy level. |
| March 1986 | The USSR opened its diplomatic mission in the UAE. |
| April 1987 | The UAE Embassy opened in Moscow. |
The establishment of these diplomatic missions greatly boosted economic cooperation. For example, in April 1988, the UAE provided a loan of $50 million to Russia.
Continued Growth and Cooperation
With the passing year the agreements between UAE and Russia have facilitated trade and economic collaboration. The Air Transport Agreement was signed in 1987, and Aeroflot has maintained an office in Abu Dhabi since 1979. By January 1990, an agreement on Trade, Economic, and Industrial Cooperation was established.
Even after the dissolution of the USSR, the relations between Russia and the UAE remained strong. Bilateral ties have continued to flourish particularly since the late 2000s, marked by numerous meetings between high-ranking officials. Notable visits include those of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Abu Dhabi and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Moscow.
During the leadership of President of UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan the relationship between both the nations has growing faster. Currently UAE President on the visit to Russia. Sheikh Mohamed arrived on Sunday in Russia ahead of a summit of the BRICS group. During this visit, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday thanked his UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the role played by the Emirates in negotiating prisoner releases with Ukraine. According to the official news sources , and WAM the two countries have exchanged hundreds of POWs since Russia launched its offensive against Ukraine in February 2022, with the various accords being mediated by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
Putin told Sheikh Mohamed, “I’d like to thank you for your role in resolving humanitarian problems, including those involving prisoner exchanges.”
