UAE and Russia Implement Landmark Trade and Investment Agreement to Boost Economic Ties

A trade and investment agreement between the UAE and Russia has officially come into force a year after its signing, designed to strengthen bilateral economic ties. According to the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the initiative seeks to enhance collaboration across high-growth services sectors by establishing clear regulations and protections for services trade and cross-border investment.

The trade in services and investment agreement (Tisia) will reduce market entry barriers, ease the movement of professionals, and foster a predictable environment for businesses operating in both nations. The agreement focuses on sectors such as FinTech, healthcare, transport, logistics, and professional services.

The Tisia was originally signed on August 8 last year in Moscow during the visit of President Sheikh Mohamed. The deal was signed by Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, and Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Economic Development of Russia.

Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi stated that the entry into force of the Tisia, alongside the economic partnership agreement with the EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union), fully activates a comprehensive trade and investment framework to unlock significant opportunities for businesses and investors.

The EAEU comprises five member states—Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan—with a combined GDP of nearly $5 trillion. The UAE signed an economic partnership agreement with the EAEU in 2025 to cover regional trade in goods.

Russia remains a major economic partner for the UAE, with bilateral non-oil trade reaching $20.4 billion last year, marking a 77.7 per cent increase compared with 2024. This deal forms part of the UAE's broader foreign trade agenda, which targets increasing non-oil trade to $1.1 trillion by 2031 through heavy investments in modern seaports, airports, and logistics infrastructure.