Dubai will host the first UAE–Russia Business Forum on December 10, a major milestone for strengthening bilateral economic ties as trade, investment and technological cooperation between the two countries continue to accelerate.
The programme and key participants were announced by the Russia–UAE Business Council, which is organising the event with the support of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Roscongress Foundation and the Marathon Investment Group.
The forum will be held as part of the 12th meeting of the Intergovernmental Russia–UAE Commission on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation, also scheduled for December 10 in Dubai.
UAE-Russia Business Forum in Dubai
Bilateral relations between the UAE and Russia have grown significantly in recent years, supported by expanding joint projects across manufacturing, transportation, logistics, agriculture, digital technologies, healthcare and investment.
Cooperation now spans both traditional industries and emerging sectors that require new collaborative frameworks.
Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov said: “In recent years, the UAE has become one of Russia’s key economic partners in the Middle East. The first UAE–Russia Business Forum is a testament to this as a priority area.
“In particular, through the work of the Russia–UAE Business Council, we see enormous potential for developing mutual investments and launching joint projects. While the focus is on technological cooperation, we also see enormous potential for Russia-UAE projects across a wide range of economic sectors in both countries, from logistics and trade to support for IT startups.”
Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, said: “Russia and the UAE are building a solid foundation for long-term cooperation that reflects the interests of both countries in the emerging system of international economic relations.
“We are seeing improvement in trade and economic indicators, expanding investment activity, and the implementation of new projects in non-resource sectors of the economy.
“Dialogue with the UAE is an important element of Russia’s broader engagement with the countries of the Global South, where new centres of economic growth are taking shape.
“Holding the Business Forum in Dubai will strengthen the practical component of our bilateral cooperation and create conditions for launching new initiatives.”
Long-term growth architecture
The forum will bring together leading companies from Russia and the UAE, investment funds, tech startups and logistics operators to discuss future partnerships. Its centrepiece is the plenary session, Architecture of Long-Term Growth: New Opportunities for Both Countries, where Alexander Vinokurov, Chairman of the Russia–UAE Business Council, will outline the Council’s strategy and instruments for unlocking economic and investment potential.
Participants will include:
- Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri
- Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov
- Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov
- CEO of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office Badr Al-Olama
- CEO of Gazprom-Media Holding Alexander Zharov
The forum will open with a panel titled Russia–UAE Innovation Track: A New Era of Technological Partnership. Speakers include Andrey Shket, Deputy Chairman of the Skolkovo Foundation; Dmitry Markov, CEO of VisionLabs; Paul Dawalibi, CEO of Innovation City; and Vyacheslav Kubaev, CEO of Magnit Tech.
This session will launch the first accelerator programme aimed at building a comprehensive growth ecosystem for Russian tech companies and startups in the UAE.
Investment Majlis
A dedicated session, Strategic Co-Investment Dialogue, hosted by Investment Majlis, will bring together strategic investors and specialised funds. Discussions will focus on new tools to support projects and the creation of a Russia–UAE investment platform.
The business programme will conclude with the panel Russia and the UAE: Shaping the Ecosystem of Trade and Logistics of the Future, featuring Ramy Jallad, CEO of RAKEZ, and Vladislav Bakhtenko, CEO of Grand Trade.
The session will address bilateral export corridors, logistics route development, diversification of trade flows and the creation of sustainable multimodal solutions.
