 | |
 Russia |  United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of Russia, Abu Dhabi | Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, Moscow |
The relationship between the Russian Federation and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stretches back to December 1971, when the Soviet Union and UAE established diplomatic relations. Relations between the two countries have been described as close and a "somewhat strategic partnership", with the countries cooperating closely in Iraq, Egypt and Libya. [1] [2]
The Soviet Union and UAE established diplomatic relations on 8 December 1971. In 1986, the Soviet embassy in Abu Dhabi was opened and the UAE embassy in Moscow was opened in 1987. [3]
Russia has an embassy in Abu Dhabi and UAE has an embassy in Moscow. In 2002, a Russian consulate-general in Dubai was established. [3]
The UAE was alone in the Gulf Cooperation Council in endorsing the 2015 Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War, describing it as against a "common enemy" of the two nations. [4]
During 2017, UAE has sought to drive a wedge between Russia and Iran, which the UAE has a poor relationship with. [5] Along with Saudi Arabia and Israel, the UAE encouraged the United States to remove sanctions on Russia pertaining to its activity in Ukraine in exchange for Russian assistance in ending the Iranian military presence in Syria. [6]
UAE is backing the House of Representatives (Libya) in the Libyan Civil War (2014–present), and Russian mercenary group Wagner Group is working for House of Representatives.
In 2019, UAE purchased $710 million of anti-tank weapons from Russia. [7]
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, trade between the two nations strengthened with many Russians relocating to the UAE to invest in real estate, business, or "escape financial restrictions in Europe". [9] Trade between the two countries has doubled to $5 billion since 2020 and there are approximately 4,000 companies with Russian roots that are operating within the country. [10]
In February 2022, Russia supported an Emirati UN Security Council resolution to extend the arms embargo on the Houthis to all members of the Yemen-based rebel group, in a deal that was purportedly for Emirati abstention on Ukraine resolutions. [11]
According to the leaked confidential US documents, [12] titled “Russia/UAE: Intelligence Relationship Deepening”, the Russian intelligence officials were engaged in strengthening their relations with the United Arab Emirates. The document stated that Russia had convinced the Emirates “to work together against US and UK intelligence agencies”. It also concluded that the UAE viewed it as an “opportunity” to diversify its partnerships, while the US was gradually parting ways from the Emirates. However, the UAE government had dismissed the accusations that they were maintaining close ties with Russian intelligence. [13]
Against the backdrop of rising economic and political engagement with Russia, the UAE Central Bank granted a license to MTS Bank in February 2023, [14] [15] aimed at meeting growing demands for financial services for Russians in the UAE. The issue of new banking licenses in the UAE is rare, and the decision generated criticism accusing the UAE of providing safe harbour to sanctioned individuals. [16] On 31 March 2023, the UAE Central Bank revoked MTS Bank's license citing "sanctions risks associated with the bank". [17] [18] It is noted that MTS Bank were not sanctioned when their license was granted, with the UK Foreign Secretary stating MTS was sanctioned on 24 February 2023 in an effort to "further isolate Russia from the international financial system and [...] prevent circumvention [of sanctions]". [19]
On August 23, 2023, at the 15th BRICS summit, Russia along with the other founders of BRICS formally invited the United Arab Emirates and others to join the organization on January 1, 2024. When the date was reached, the United Arab Emirates formally joined BRICS. [20]
In early 2024, following mediation efforts by the UAE, Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war. [21] [22]
On 1 May 2024, the US sanctioned almost 300 firms and individuals, including the China and the UAE, over accusations that they were supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Treasury Department sanctioned the UAE-based Albait Al Khaleeja General Trading LLC for facilitating a passage for sanctioned goods to reach Russia. The company, supposedly an auto parts exporter, was involved in supply of over 6,800 shipments to Russian consumers. [23] Meanwhile, the US, UK and the EU were also putting pressure on the UAE to share their record of crack down on firms evading sanctions imposed on Russia. [24]
Former chairman of DMCC, Hamad Buamim pointed out to the inefficiency of the US sanctions against Russia, stating that the sanctions reflected no impact outside the west. He also said that the attempt to stop the flow of business redirected it to other sides, and that the sanctions were making trade more complex and impacting the entire world. The UAE was playing a crucial role between the West and the East, due to its geographical position. Dubai became a beneficiary of American and European efforts to isolate the Russian economy. As Switzerland also imposed sanctions on Russia, oil traders shifted from Geneva to UAE. However, Buamim said businesses were not relocating to Dubai due to sanctions, but because of the city’s infrastructure. [25]
Demographic features of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) include population density, vital statistics, immigration and emigration data, ethnicity, education levels, religions practiced, and languages spoken within the UAE.
The United Arab Emirates is a high-income developing market economy. The UAE's economy is the 4th largest in the Middle East, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$415 billion in 2021-2023.
The diplomatic foreign relations of the United Arab Emirates are conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The United Arab Emirates has quite a close and friendly relationship with the US, being described as the United States' best counter-terrorism ally in the Gulf by Richard A. Clarke, the U.S. national security advisor and counter-terrorism expert. In terms of defense, the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces has been nicknamed "Little Sparta" by United States Armed Forces generals and former U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis for its active role against extremists in the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates also hosts the only United States border preclearance in the Middle East. Both countries are members of the I2U2 Group, which was established in 2021.
Indians in the United Arab Emirates constitute the largest part of the population of the country. Over 3,860,000 Indian expats are estimated to be living in the United Arab Emirates, with over 38% of the country's total population and the fourth highest number of overseas Indians in the world, after the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia. Indian contact with the emirates that now constitute the UAE dates back several centuries, as a result of trade and commerce between the emirates and India. The UAE has experienced a tremendous increase in the population of resident Indians who initially migrated to the country as a result of opportunities in petroleum. Now, Indians are key to the UAE's construction, retail, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and transport sectors. A sizeable minority of Indian migrants are involved in professional services and entrepreneurship. Relations between India and the UAE have traditionally been very friendly.
Canada—United Arab Emirates relations is used to describe the relations between the nations of Canada and the United Arab Emirates. Canada established relations with the United Arab Emirates in 1974. Each maintains an embassy in the other's capital.
Turkey and the United Arab Emirates share extensive cultural, military and economic ties, but relations have substantially deteriorated since Arab Spring, and later started to recover in the recent years.
France–United Arab Emirates relations are the foreign relations between France and the United Arab Emirates.
Relations between the neighboring countries of Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are deeply historic, dating back centuries prior to the establishment of the modern-day United Arab Emirates; however today are shaky and unpredictable. Both the countries maintain diplomatic relations with each other, having embassies in each other's capitals.
China – United Arab Emirates relations refer to the diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the United Arab Emirates. Diplomatic ties were first established in 1984. The UAE maintains an embassy in Beijing and a consulate-general in Hong Kong while China has an embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate-general in Dubai. The UAE and China have been strong international allies, with significant cooperation across economic, political and cultural aspects.
Syria–United Arab Emirates relations refer to the relationship between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Syrian Arab Republic. The UAE has an embassy in Damascus and Syria has an embassy in Abu Dhabi and a consulate-general in Dubai. Both countries are members of the Arab League, part of the Middle East region and share close cultural ties.
The United Arab Emirates and Germany established relations in May 1972. The U.A.E. has an embassy in Berlin and consulate-general in Munich while Germany maintains an embassy in Abu Dhabi and a consulate-general in Dubai. German exports amount to 5.84 billion Euros. German companies significantly contribute to the UAE's ongoing infrastructure projects and play a leading role in the country's alternative energy developments. Consequently, German Business Park, an area designed to house several of the already seven hundred present companies and their logistical needs, is in the midst of construction. There are thousands of expatriate Germans in the United Arab Emirates who have helped maintain connections between the two countries.
The United Arab Emirates has an embassy in London while the United Kingdom maintains an embassy in Abu Dhabi and is unique in having another Embassy in Dubai, albeit with His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, as opposed to a separate British Ambassador. The UAE-UK relations have been described as a "special relationship".
Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) established diplomatic relations in 1976. The diplomatic relations are important because both share the solidarity as Muslim majority countries. Indonesia has an embassy in Abu Dhabi, while the United Arab Emirates has an embassy in Jakarta. Both countries are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), The Non-Aligned Movement and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Serbian-Emirati relations are foreign relations between Serbia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). SFR Yugoslavia established diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates in 1971. Serbia {republic of ex yugoslavia} also has a commercial section in Dubai. The UAE are represented in Serbia by their embassy in Belgrade.
Mexico–United Arab Emirates relations are the diplomatic relations between Mexico and the United Arab Emirates. Both nations are members of the United Nations.
Tanzania–United Arab Emirates relations are the diplomatic relations between Tanzania and the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is one of Tanzania's largest trading partner and have had cordial relationship for many years.
Armenia–United Arab Emirates relations are the diplomatic relations between Armenia and the United Arab Emirates. Official relations exist between both nations since 1998. Armenia has an embassy in Abu Dhabi and a consulate in Dubai. The United Arab Emirates has embassy in Yerevan.
Polish-Emirati relations are foreign relations between the Republic of Poland and the United Arab Emirates. Poland has an embassy in Abu Dhabi, and the United Arab Emirates has its counterpart in Warsaw.
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