Middle East News & Analysis

Middle East

Russia’s trade and investment into the Middle East is rapidly developing, with relations both through the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League all helping boost bilateral trade by 25% during 2025. Partially driven by the developments along the INSTC, and new regional free trade agreements, we provide analysis of the growing Russia-Middle East economic partnership. Discover trade statistics, investment flows from the GCC, and business opportunities for companies in both regions.

Featured April 9, 2025

Russia Imports Its First Shipment Of Dates From Dubai

In another sign of shifting supply chains, Russia’s FESCO Transport Group has organised the first shipment of imported dates in a refrigerated container from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Russia. 23 tonnes of dried dates were loaded into a FESCO refrigerated container and delivered to the UAE’s Jebel Ali Port. The cargo was then loaded […]

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March 23, 2025

Russia, Qatar Developing Regional Rail, Road and Port Infrastructure

Russia and Qatar are negotiating a draft intergovernmental memorandum on cooperation in transport and transit, the Russian Ministry of Transport has stated. It is another example of Russia’s own version of the Belt & Road Initiative.  The two countries have been holding their fifth meeting of the joint Russian-Qatari commission on trade, economic and technical […]

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March 20, 2025

Russian Seafood Imports From Iran Up 25% In 2024

Russia imported 20,000 tonnes of seafood from Iran in 2024, up 25% from the previous year, the Russia Fish Union said, citing the European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA). In monetary terms, imports also increased 25%, reaching US$60 million in value. Russia accounted for 10% of Iran’s total seafood exports in volume […]

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March 18, 2025

Eurasian Economic Union, Iran, Free Trade Agreement Effective From May 15   

The full free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries and Iran will go into effect on May 15, according to Andrei Slepnev, the Eurasian Economic Commission Trade Minister. The EAEU includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. It fills the geographic space between Eastern Europe and Western China.   The EAEU said in […]

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March 17, 2025

Russia, Qatar Discuss Regional Halal Agri-Industrial Hub

Russia is considering the establishment of an agro-industrial hub in Qatar and it is ready to increase supplies of halal agricultural products there, according to Denis Manturov, the Russian First Deputy Prime Minister. He was speaking at the fifth meeting of the joint Russian-Qatari commission on trade, economic and technological cooperation in Doha. Manturov said […]

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March 15, 2025

Russia, China & Iran To Cooperate More In BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Amidst Nuclear Talks

China, Russia and Iran have agreed to boost coordination within the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the three countries’ diplomats said in a statement following a meeting in Beijing to discuss Iran’s nuclear issues. China’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu stated that “The parties agreed to support and strengthen coordination on multilateral platforms […]

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March 14, 2025

Putin Discusses OPEC Production With Saudi Crown Prince

The Russian President Vladimir Putin held discussions with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman Al Saud on Thursday (March 13) following the US bilateral talks with Ukraine which the Prince hosted. In addition to no doubt discussing the content of the talks, the two also discussed collaboration within the OPEC+ platform, which regulates oil […]

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March 13, 2025

VTB Launches QR Payment System In Turkiye, Bypasses SWIFT 

Russia’s VTB bank has launched a QR code payment system for purchases in Turkiye, with the system coming operational from March 12. About 7 million Russians visit Turkiye every year, either on holiday or in transit elsewhere. Western sanctions have restricted the use of Russian Mir cards in Turkey – The US Treasury Department’s Office […]

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March 12, 2025

Russia, China and Iran Conduct Joint Navy Drills In The Arabian Sea   

The Joint Maritime Security Belt 2025 exercise involving Russian, Iranian, and Chinese warships has begun from Iran’s Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman. The Russian side is represented by the Rezky and Hero of Russia Aldar Tsydenzhapov corvettes, and the Pechenga tanker of the Pacific Fleet. China had deployed two warships and one logistics […]

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March 11, 2025

Russia Ships First Animal Pet Feed Products To Iraq

The Russian animal feed producer, CJSC SK Korocha, from Kursk has shipped its first batch of feed for non-productive animals to Iraq, according to the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor)’s offices for the Oryol and Kursk regions. Russian exporters across the country have been actively looking for new markets to the East […]

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