On January 29, 2026, President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, paid a high-level visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow to discuss the further development of the bilateral multifaceted strategic partnership between the two countries. The visit was an extension of the historic ties between Russia and the UAE that this year is commemorating 55 years of diplomatic relations.
The talks started in a broadened form accompanied by the delegations of both countries and were preceded by a one-on-one conversation between the president Putin and the president bin Zayed in the environment of an official breakfast. The agenda has included major spheres of bilateral collaboration such as trade, investment, energy, technology, humanitarian interactions, and collaborative endeavors on the global and regional matters, especially in the Middle East.
The formal visit involved a formal welcome at the St. George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace. It was accompanied by the official photographs, the national anthems of both countries were performed and the members of the two delegations were involved in the event.
In his speech, President Putin emphasized the increased power of the Russian-UAE cooperation in several spheres. He highlighted the steady increase in bilateral trade, the successful development of over 60 joint investment projects via the Russian Direct Investment Fund and the Mubadala Foundation, and the development of cooperation in the field of technologies and high-tech spheres, such as the promotion of Yandex services in the UAE market. Humanitarian and cultural exchanges were also in focus where the UAE hosts the Days of Russian Culture, and it received more Russian tourists, which is hitting 1.5 million in the first nine months of 2025 -a year-on-year growth of 18 percent.
Education and scientific collaboration were also emphasized, whereby Russia-UAE centers are in the Primakov Russian Gymnasium and in the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics branches in the UAE. It is also planned to establish a Russian university and a youth science park in the frames of the Sirius Centre which would enhance educational relations even more.
President Putin was also thankful that the UAE contributed to its humanitarian aid to the Ukraine crisis, such as helping to swap detained individuals and hosting a trilateral security meeting in Abu Dhabi. He observed the still relevant bilateral coordination on Middle East matters such as the joint efforts to enhance humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the facilitation of the formation of viable Palestinian state.
In reaction, the president of the UAE, Mohamed bin Zayed, stated that it was the desire of the UAE to develop the strategic relationship with Russia. He emphasized on the common goals of the countries in the areas of sustainable development, trade, energy and technology, and in the benefits of such agreements like the Trade in Services and Investment Agreement and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. President bin Zayed also reaffirmed the UAE support to the Russian humanitarian efforts and political participation, and the need to engage in dialogue as a way of ensuring peace and stability in the region.
The negotiations ended on an agreement that both countries are willing to continue work bilaterally, and both leaders were hopeful that the relationship between Russia and the United Arab Emirates would continue to develop and both countries would prosper.