the United Arab Emirates

RUSSIA-UAE RELATIONS

Diplomatic relations between the USSR and the UAE were established on December 8, 1971. In 1986, the USSR opened its Embassy in Abu Dhabi. In 1987, the UAE opened its Embassy in Moscow. In December 1991, the UAE recognised the Russian Federation as the successor state of the USSR. The Russian Federation’s Consulate General has functioned in Dubai since 2002.

Russia-Emirates relations are characterised by a high level of political dialogue and an intensive exchange of delegations.

President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation paid the first ever Russian official visit to the UAE in September 2007.

UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum paid an official visit to Russia in March 2009 in return.

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Russia in September 2006, June 2009, October 2012, September  2013, October 2014, August and October 2015, March 2016, and April 2017.

As a result of the April 20, 2017 meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the parties approved a Statement of Intention to elevate Russia-Emirates relations to a strategic partnership.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov visited the UAE in February 2007, November 2011, February 2016, and February 2017. Sergey Lavrov paid his latest working visit to the Emirates on August 28-29, 2017. He was received by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He also met with UAE National Security Adviser Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan and held talks with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Moscow in October 2006, June 2010, February 2012, May 2015, and February and November 2016.

On March 28, Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov met with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the Arab League summit in Sharm El Sheikh.

On May 25-26, 2016, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Mohammed Gargash was in Moscow for the fourth ministerial meeting within the framework of the Russia – Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) strategic dialogue.

On December 6-7, 2016, Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov paid a working visit to the Emirates. On December 6, he was received by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He also met with UAE National Security Adviser Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Assistant Secretary-General of the UAE Supreme Council for National Security Ali Al Shamsi. On December 7, Mikhail Bogdanov held consultations with UAE Assistant Foreign Minister for Security and Military Affairs Faris Al Mazrouei.

Trade and economic cooperation: In 2016, Russia-UAE foreign trade, according to the Federal Customs Service of Russia (FCS), totaled $1,243.8 million, remaining at 2015 levels ($1,245.7 million), with Russian exports amounting to $971.1 million and imports to $272.7 million.

In the first half of 2017, mutual trade was worth $738 million, rising by 3.8 percent in comparison with the same period in 2016.

Based on accepted practices for bilateral trade between Russia and the UAE, the FCS statistics do not reflect re-exports of non-Emirati goods (such as transport vehicles and components) to the Russian market, which, according to expert estimates, comprises 30 percent of the entire commodity flow from the UAE to Russia.

The main exports: (over 70 percent of all supplies) precious metals and stones, oil products, wheat, ammunition for sport guns and hunting weapons, alloyed-steel rolled sheets, non-alloyed-steel angles or special sections, colour televisions, untreated aluminum, rolled craft paper and cardboard.

The main imports (over 80 percent of imports): tea, plastics and goods made from plastics, almonds, filtering equipment for liquids, rare-earth compounds, heating equipment, engines and power plants, spares for drilling or tunneling machines; ferrous metal manufactures, agricultural spraying and sprinkling equipment, glassware, machines and individual mechanical appliances, pumps and compressors, pipe and boiler fittings; hand-tools.

Russia and the Emirates are promoting investment cooperation. In 2013, at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, the Russian Fund for Direct Investment (RFDI) and the UAE’s Mubadala Investment Company created a platform for joint investment in Russia-based projects with a targeted amount of investment partnership worth up to $7 billion.

In January 2016, the RFDI and the UAE’s DP World, one of the world’s leading port operators, announced the establishment of DP World Russia joint venture with an aim to invest in Russia’s port, transport and logistical infrastructure. The relevant agreement was signed by RFDI Director General Kirill Dmitriyev and Group Chairman and CEO of DP World Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem at the International Economic Forum in Davos. DP World Russia will focus on investing up to $2 billion into seaports and transport and logistical terminals in various Russian regions.

The Intergovernmental Russia-Emirates Commission for Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation has functioned successfully since its establishment in 1994. The Commission’s co-chairs are Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov (since 2012) and UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (since 2006). The Commission held its first meeting in Abu Dhabi in March 1997. The second meeting took place in Moscow in June 2010, the third in Abu Dhabi in February 2013, the fourth in Moscow on October 10, 2014, and the fifth in Abu Dhabi on November 25-27, 2015. The sixth meeting was held in Moscow on November 7-9, 2016.

On January 21, 2014, the parties established a joint Working Group to monitor the implementation of the Intergovernmental Commission’s decisions (the WG is co-chaired by Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Georgy Kalamanov and UAE Assistant Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Khalid Ghanim Al Ghaith). Specialised groups for regional and investment cooperation, for industry, for investment and innovation, and for cooperation in the aluminum industry have been established and started operations.

Russian Minister of Industry and Trade and co-chair of the Intergovernmental Commission Denis Manturov visits the UAE regularly. Mr. Manturov led the Russian delegation to IDEX 2017, an international defence exhibition held in Abu Dhabi, on February 19-23, 2017. During the visit, he was received by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and met with Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Presidential Orchestra of the Moscow Kremlin Commandant Service, a division of the Federal Guard Service, played for the first time at the exhibition opening ceremony.

UAE Minister of Energy Suhail Al Mazrouei was on a working visit to Russia between March 30 and April 1, 2016 to attend the second meeting of the Russia-UAE Working Group for Regional and Investment Cooperation.

First Deputy Energy Minister of Russia Alexey Teksler attended the seventh session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) as a full-fledged participant and met with Mr. Suhail Al Mazrouei and IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin on the sidelines of the event.

The Russia-Emirates Business Council was established in September 2005. The BC chair is Arsen Kanokov, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council International Affairs Committee.

Russian business operators are strengthening their positions on the Emirati market. There are about 40 offices of Russian companies operating in the UAE, including Rosneft, Lukoil Overseas Ltd., VTB Capital, Volga-Dnieper, Kurganmashzavod, Amtel, Stroitransgaz, Metallurgical Pipe Company, Interkomholding, Alrosa, Metalloinvest, INTER RAO UES, KAMAZ, and others.

In November 2015, Dubai hosted the first session of the Russian Economic and Financial Forum, which was attended by Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Yevgeny Bushmin, First Deputy Chairperson of the State Duma Committee for International Affairs Svetlana Zhurova, State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Oleg Fomichyov, Deputy Finance Minister Sergey Shatalov as well as  Russian business people and experts.

Russian Minister of Agriculture Alexander Tkachyov led the Russian delegation to the 21^st Gulf international food and hospitality industry exhibition, Gulfood 2016, which was held in Dubai on February 21-25, 2016.

Russia and the UAE maintain inter-parliamentary contact. In May 2008, Speaker of the House of the UAE Federal National Council (Parliament) Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair visited Moscow at the invitation of the Russian State Duma Speaker.

On April 26-27, a Federation Council delegation, including Igor Morozov, a member of the International Affairs Committee, and Mikhail Sinitsyn, chief adviser for the International Affairs Committee, was in Dubai for a regional conference of compatriots living in the Middle East and Africa.

On February 16, 2016, a Federation Council delegation led by Federation Council Deputy Speaker Ilyas Umakhanov paid a working visit to the UAE, where he met with President of the Federal National Council Amal Al Qubaisi, who was presented an invitation to visit Russia from Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko.

On April 13-14, 2016, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko paid an official visit to the UAE. She was received by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and by Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. She also held talks with President of the Federal National Council Amal Al Qubaisi.

On June 1-4, 2016, Ms. Amal Al Qubaisi paid a return visit to the Russian Federation, where she visited Moscow and St. Petersburg. The FNC President was received by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev; she also met with Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Chairperson Sergey Naryshkin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, and RFDI Director-General Kirill Dmitriyev.

On December 11-13, 2016, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko led a Federation Council delegation to Abu Dhabi to participate in the 11^th Meeting of Women Speakers of Parliament, an event organised by the UAE Federal National Council and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, in which over 30 women speakers and vice speakers of parliaments and inter-parliamentary associations participated. On December 11, Valentina Matviyenko held another meeting with President of the Federal National Council Amal Al Qubaisi on the sidelines of the forum, which resulted in the signing of an agreement on inter-parliamentary cooperation between the Federation Council and the UAE Federal National Council.

Regions of the Russian Federation are also involved in developing Russia-UAE ties. Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov regularly visits the Emirates. Leaders from Tatarstan also attach much importance to cooperation with the Emirates.

On February 5-7, 2017, a delegation of the Ministry for the North Caucasus led by Minister Lev Kuznetsov paid a working visit to the UAE, where the delegation met with Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Prevention Dr Mohamed Salim Al Olama and the management of the Dubai Healthcare City.

Bilateral cooperation in science, culture and education is underway. In August 2007, Chelyabinsk University and Al Ain University of Science and Technology signed a cooperation agreement.

The UAE shows much interest in Russian culture, as confirmed by the large number of events involving performers from Russia that are held in the UAE. Peace International Youth Orchestra under the well-known Russian conductor Valery Gergiev performed in the UAE capital in January 2011. In April 2014, Dubai hosted a concert of operatic singer Julia Novikova. Vladimir Spivakov’s Virtuosos of Moscow performed in Dubai in February 2015 and Yury Bashmet’s Soloists of Moscow in October 2015. In December 2015, Abu Dhabi hosted a concert by the State Folk Music Ensemble from the Republic of Tatarstan. In January 2016, the first international Caucasian dance festival was held in Dubai as part of the Dubai Trade Festival, in which the Dagestan State Song and Dance Ensemble, the Elbrus State Dance Ensemble of the Karachayevo-Circassian Republic, Moscow’s Ansar Dance Ensemble, and a number of dance companies from CIS countries participated. In September 2016, the Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theater was on tour in the UAE, where it performed on the stage of the recently opened Dubai Opera.

On December 8, 2016, the Russian Pavilion at the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival hosted a gala concert dedicated to the 45^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and the UAE. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov sent a message of greetings to the festival participants and guests.

Tourist exchanges are traditionally a significant component in humanitarian cooperation between the two countries. In December 2015, Russia opened its national tourist office, Visit Russia, in Dubai as part of efforts to attract Emirati tourists to the Russian Federation.

On March 26-27, 2016, Russian Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky was on a working visit to Dubai, where he met with representatives of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commercial Marketing and local airlines, including FlyDubai. Mr. Medinsky also visited the Visit Russia office.

On February 1, 2017, the new UAE visa regulations came into force introducing a simplified entry procedure for Russian holders of ordinary foreign travel passports, who can now obtain a single entry/exit visa valid for 30 days at all UAE border checkpoints.

The Russian media have shored up their positions in the UAE. RIA Novosti and Rusiya Al-Yaum TV channel have opened offices in Dubai. Russian Radio in the Arab Emirates has been broadcasting in the UAE since 2009. The Anba Muscu (Moscow News), a monthly Russian newspaper in Arabic (with a circulation of 150,000), is also published in the UAE.

The Arabian Peninsula’s first church of the Russian Orthodox Church and its cultural and educational centre have functioned in the Emirate of Sharjah since August 2011.

Russia and the UAE have signed a number of agreements: on trade, economic and technical cooperation (1990); on a simplified entry/exit procedure for aircraft crews (2004); on military-technical cooperation (2006); on air traffic (2007); on anti-crime cooperation (2007); on repayment of the former USSR’s debts (2007); on reciprocal visa waiver for diplomatic passport holders (2010); on the encouragement and reciprocal protection of investment (2010); on the reciprocal protection of classified information (2011); on an investment income tax to be levied on contracting states and their financial and investment institutions (2011); on cooperation in the area of peaceful use of atomic energy (2012); and on extradition and reciprocal legal assistance in criminal cases (2014).

The parties have signed the following  memoranda: on mutual understanding regarding cooperation in the areas of standardisation, metrology and evaluating conformity between the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology and the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (2007); on consultations between foreign ministries (2007); on mutual understanding between the Federal Space Agency and the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (2007); on space exploration for peace (2007); on cooperation between the Russian Ministry of Economic Development and the UAE Ministry of Economy (2014); on mutual understanding and cooperation in higher education and research between the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia and the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (2014); on mutual understanding between the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) and the UAE Space Agency (2015); on sports cooperation between the Russian Ministry of Sport and the UAE General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare; on mutual understanding in the area of intellectual property between the Federal Service for Intellectual Property and the UAE Ministry of Economy (2015); and, on mutual understanding regarding cooperation in the area of standardisation and metrology between the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology and the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (2016).