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.
The Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, at the Kremlin on Friday (January 30) in an unannounced high-level meeting. Larijani, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was appointed to his post last August. He previously visited Moscow in the summer following US airstrikes […]
On January 29, 2026, the Kremlin once again became a focal point of global diplomacy as President Vladimir Putin held extensive talks with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The geopolitical and economic substance of the meeting reflected the consolidation of a Russia-UAE strategic partnership at a moment […]
The United Arab Emirates is discussing involvement in the Russian state atomic energy corporation Rosatom’s projects in third countries, including Turkiye, as an investor, according to Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev. He has stated that “We’re actively inviting our UAE partners to our projects in third countries, and they’re displaying an interest in projects in Central […]
Russia’s The Maritime Board Chairman Nikolai Patrushev has visited the Maritime Security Center in Muscat, Oman, and discussed the possibility of cooperation with Russia on security issues within the center’s remit, according to the Russian Maritime Board. Patrushev discussed with the Omani side the possibility of joint work on issues that are on the radar […]
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmed al-Sharaa, at the Kremlin on January 28. The talks focused on political, economic, and military base security cooperation and coordination, as well as expanded collaboration in trade, investment, and post-war reconstruction. Notably, this visit marks President al-Sharaa’s second trip to Russia […]
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Sergei Shishkarev, chairman of the board of directors at Russia’s Delo Group, has announced the concept of establishing a grain hub in Oman. He stated that “We are looking into establishing a grain transshipment hub, possibly for processing, or to conduct trading operations in the Sultanate of Oman, followed by redistribution and delivery of the […]
The Russian and Chinese defense ministers have held a videoconference, with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov saying on Tuesday (January 27) that Russia is ready to strengthen practical cooperation with the Chinese military. Belousov and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held talks to deepen practical cooperation in such areas as joint actions and personnel training. […]
The gradual emergence and importance of the International North-South Transportation Corridor (INSTC) is making itself felt, with Russia’s Krasnodar Territory, one of the largest agricultural regions in the country, exporting 252,000 tonnes of sunflower oil to Iran last year, according to the Novorossiysk branch of the Federal Center for Assessing the Safety and Quality of […]
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) imported 7,200 tonnes of chicken eggs worth US$8.6 million from Russia in 2025, becoming the leader in purchasing this Russian product in value terms, the Agroexport federal center has stated. This is the highest level since 2018, when exports reached values of US$12.5 million. The UAE overtook Mongolia, the previous […]
Trade turnover in fish and seafood between Russia and Middle Eastern countries grew 22% in 2025 to reach a value of US$107 million, the Russian Fish Union has said, based on an analysis of foreign customs services data. Exports from Russia to the UAE decreased 25% to 300 tonnes, but their value increased 35% to […]
Russia’s exports of agricultural products to Middle East countries reached US$4.3 billion in value during 2025, according to Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut. She was speaking at the opening of the Russian exposition at the Gulfood 2026 international food exhibition currently taking place in Dubai. Lut stated that “Our relations with Middle East countries are steadily […]
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