Dubai Hosts First UAE–Russia Business Forum to Strengthen Trade, Investment and Technological Cooperation
Dubai, The Gulf Observer: The First UAE–Russia Business Forum, a major milestone in the evolving economic partnership between the United Arab Emirates and the Russian Federation, opened today in Dubai. The event, which is expected to become an annual fixture, is organized by the Russia–UAE Business Council (RUBC) in collaboration with the Roscongress Foundation and with support from the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade and Marathon Investment Group.
The forum convenes leaders of major corporations, investment funds, government ministries, and innovative technology startups from both countries. It is being held alongside the 12th meeting of the Intergovernmental Russia–UAE Commission on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation.
In recent years, bilateral trade turnover has grown significantly, accompanied by the expansion of joint projects across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, transport, logistics, agriculture, digital technologies, healthcare, and investment. Officials noted that cooperation is progressing both in traditional industries and in emerging fields requiring new collaborative mechanisms.
A key highlight of the forum is the plenary session titled “Architecture of Long-Term Growth: New Opportunities for Both Countries,” during which Alexander Vinokurov, Chairman of the Russia–UAE Business Council, will outline the Council’s strategy to unlock economic and business potential in both markets.
Prominent participants in the plenary session include UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri; Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov; President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov; DP World Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem; VTB Bank board member and head of CIB Vitaly Sergeychuk; Gazprom-Media Holding CEO Alexander Zharov; and Sergey Katyrin, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.
The forum’s panel programme opens with the session “Russia–UAE Innovation Track: A New Era of Technological Partnership,” featuring key figures such as Marathon Investment Group Partner Sergey Zakharov; Dubai Future Foundation CEO Khalfan Belhoul; Invest in Sharjah CEO Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh; Innovation City CCO Nabil Arnous; VisionLabs CEO Dmitry Markov; Promobot Board Chairman Alexey Yuzhakov; Magnit Tech CEO Vyacheslav Kubaev; and Anastasia Stolkova, member of the Russian Public Chamber Commission on Healthcare.
The session will also launch the first accelerator programme aimed at building a comprehensive growth ecosystem for Russian tech companies and startups in the UAE.
A dedicated Investment Majlis session, Strategic Co-Investment Dialogue, will focus on deepening investment cooperation between strategic investors and specialized funds. Participants will review projects and financial instruments designed to support the creation of a Russia–UAE investment platform.
The business programme will conclude with the panel discussion “Russia and the UAE: Shaping the Ecosystem of Trade and Logistics of the Future.” Speakers, including executives from FESCO, RAKEZ, KEZAD, Grand Trade, Emirates Airlines, DP World, and Akron Holding, will examine ways to develop bilateral export corridors, diversify trade flows, and build sustainable multimodal logistics solutions.
The forum reflects the growing ambition of both nations to strengthen long-term economic ties and foster innovation-driven growth.
