President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, arrived in Russia for an official visit, where he was formally welcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin at St. George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace on Thursday. The visit was reported on the Russian President’s official website and by TV BRICS.

During their meeting, President Putin highlighted the steady growth in bilateral trade and the overall positive trajectory of Russia-UAE relations. He praised the work of the intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, and technical cooperation, noting the expansion of joint investment projects, business forums, and sector-specific partnerships. Putin also emphasized strengthened humanitarian ties, including collaboration in education, science, and sports, and cited the successful Days of Russian Culture held in the UAE in November. Plans were also discussed for establishing a Russian university and a youth science park in the Emirates.

Tourism between the two nations has grown significantly, with nearly 1.5 million Russians visiting the UAE in the first nine months of 2025, an 18% increase from the previous year. President Al Nahyan expressed optimism that 2026 would bring further progress for Russia and enhanced bilateral relations. He reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Moscow, highlighting agreements on trade in services, investments, and the UAE-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) economic partnership as key drivers of expanded trade and mutual investments.

Economist Mikhail Khachaturyan noted that while trade structures remain somewhat imbalanced, rapid growth, rising investments, and new agreements are strengthening the partnership. Russia is boosting exports of agricultural products, including halal meat and confectionery, while Russian investments in the UAE have surpassed USD 30 billion, with around 4,000 Russian companies registered there. Key areas of cooperation include energy machinery, space, nuclear energy, pharmaceuticals, digital technologies, tourism, payment systems, and agriculture. The last meeting between the two leaders occurred on August 7, 2025, during President Al Nahyan’s previous visit to Russia, when they reviewed ongoing projects and future plans.