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 December 9, 2024

Assad Arrives In Moscow As Russia Prepares To Defend Syrian Assets

The deposed Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family and has been granted asylum on ‘humanitarian’ grounds. Syrian militants, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which has connections with Al-Queda, have apparently taken control of the country, although the situation remains fluid. Moscow has called for the resumption of […]

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Featured December 3, 2024

Russia Discusses Syria Conflict With Iran: Other Vested Interests

Russia’s pivot to Asia has taken on a new security dimension with the escalation of violence in Syria, where the government has come under attack from the Jabhat al-Nusra extremist group, its allies, and carried out a major attack on Aleppo and other settlements in northern Syria that were under the protection of the Syrian […]

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November 22, 2024

Russian Gauge Railway To Connect With Iranian Gulf Ports & INSTC  

Russia and Iran are negotiating the construction of a Russian-standard gauge railway from the Iranian city of Parsabad on the Iranian border with Azerbaijan, to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf coast, according to Kazem Jalali, the Iranian Ambassador in Moscow. Russian rail gauge is 1,520 mm wide, Iran’s is 1,435 […]

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November 14, 2024

Oman and Qatar Want To Join The North-South Transport Corridor

Oman and Qatar are interested in expanding the North-South International Transport Corridor (ITC), the multimodal supply chain route that stretches from Russia’s Caspian Sea coast to Iran and onto South Asia. Marat Zembatov, a member of the Russian-Omani Business Council at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia, and a member of the transport […]

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November 3, 2024

Saudi Arabia Gets Foothold Into Russia’s Agricultural Market

Saudi Arabia’s Salic (Saudi Agricultural & Livestock Investment) has gained control over several Russian agricultural assets through its purchase of Singapore’s Olam Agri, the Russian Union of Grain Exporters and Producers has said. The main asset is the Azov Grain Terminal. Eduard Zernin, the Union CEO, stated “Without exaggeration, this is a landmark deal which […]

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November 1, 2024

New Israel Port Haifa – Novorossiysk Shipping Service Launched

Russia’s multimodal transport operator Ruscon, part of the Delo Group, is launching a regular service for delivering consolidated cargo from Israel to Russia, the company has stated. Goods will be consolidated at warehousing in the Haifa Port, then shipped in large containers to Ruscon’s Delo Group’s marine terminal in Novorossiysk. Cargo will be deconsolidated at […]

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October 31, 2024

Iraq Interested In BRICS, Latest Russia-Iraq Trade and Investment Data

The Russian Ambassador to Iraq, Elbrus Kutrashev, has stated that the Iraqi government is interested in BRICS, but it is too early at present to talk about the country becoming a member. Speaking to Izvestia, he said “Russia is in fashion among Iraqis now. There are many who want to visit Russia for tourism or […]

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October 30, 2024

Russia – Kuwait Bilateral 2024 Relations: Update  

The Russian and Kuwaiti Foreign Ministers have met in Moscow, with Russia welcoming Kuwait’s growing interest in developing relations between the two countries, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov following talks with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah al-Yahya. Lavrov said “We have welcomed the growing interest of the governments, departments and business circles of the […]

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October 28, 2024

The Middle East and the 2024 BRICS Summit: Executive Summary

The Middle East was a key component of the 2024 BRICS Heads of State Summit, with considerable diplomatic engagement concerning the on-going crisis. Just one day after the Iranian delegation returned from Russia, Israel attacked Tehran. The Palestinian President was also invited to the summit as was the UN Secretary-General. However, apart from the security […]

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