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United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow pledging to double Russia-UAE trade in the next 5 years. The UAE and Russia have signed a Trade in Services and Investment Agreement (TISIA) in Moscow during President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed AL Nahyan’s visit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The accord, signed by UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, builds on existing trade frameworks by focusing on high-growth services sectors, including:

• Fintech

• Health Care

• Transport and Logistics

• Professional Services

Part of a larger trade vision

The TISIA is aligned with the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) programme, which targets $1.1 tn in non-oil foreign trade by 2031, building on the record $816 bn in 2024 (+14.6% YoY)By Easing market access, fostering investment and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, the UAE-Russia deal reinforces both nations’ commitment to long-term economic collaboration and position the UAE as a key global trade hub.

UAE ranks 10th for FDI inflows in 2024

The UAE has undeniably turned into a hotspot for foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows. So much so that the country recently ranked at number 10 globally for FDI inflows, according to the UNCTAD World Investment Report 2025. It also ranked second for newly announced greenfield projects in 2024, based on the data from the UAE FDI Report 2025. In detail, UAE FDI inflows reached a record $45.6 billion in 2024, up 48% year-on-year and accounting for 37% of all FDI into the MENA region. Moreover, from 2015 to 2024, annual inflows grew at a 10.5% CAGR, while cumulative FDI stock hit $270.6 billion. The Minister of Investment, Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, attributed the achievement to the UAE’s strategic vision, competitive business environment, and strong legislative framework. Meanwhile, Greenfield FDI projects grew 2.8% to 1,369 in 2024, with capital investment of $14.5 billion, securing the UAE second place globally behind the U.S. Key sectors which accounted for software and IT (11.5%), business services (9.7%), renewable energy (9.3%), oil and gas (9%), and real estate (7.8%). To highlight, renewable energy alone drew $1.3 billion, supporting the UAE’s goal to triple capacity by 2030. Going ahead, the UAE aims to double annual inflows to AED 2.2 trillion by 2031, under the National Investment Strategy 2031, further solidifying its status as a global investment hub.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the TISIA agreement represents a pivotal milestone in strengthening UAE Russia bilateral relations, reinforcing both nations’ positions in the global economy, and unlocking vast opportunities across high-growth sectors. By creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs, easing market access, fostering investment, and aligning with the UAE’s CEPA programme and National Investment Strategy 2031, the UAE–Russia TISIA reinforces both nations’ commitment to long-term economic collaboration and strengthens the United Arab Emirates’ role as a global trade hub. Lastly, the pact not only accelerates non-oil trade and investment flows but also supports the UAE’s long-term vision of becoming the world’s leading hub for commerce, innovation, and sustainable growth.