UAE, Russia launch inaugural business forum in Dubai

Dubai hosted the first UAE-Russia Business Forum, marking a new platform aimed at strengthening commercial and investment ties between the two countries, WAM reported.

The event - planned as an annual gathering - is organized by the Russia-UAE Business Council in partnership with the Roscongress Foundation, with backing from Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and Marathon Investment Group. It coincides with the 12th meeting of the Russia–UAE Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation.

The forum brings together senior executives from major corporations, investment funds, government ministries and emerging technology firms from both nations. Their discussions come at a time of rapidly expanding bilateral trade and joint ventures across manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, digital technologies, healthcare and investment.

A highlight of the event is the main plenary session, “Architecture of Long-Term Growth: New Opportunities for Both Countries,” during which Alexander Vinokurov, who chairs the Russia–UAE Business Council, will unveil the group’s strategy for deepening economic cooperation.

Officials taking part include UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Russia’s Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, DP World Chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, VTB Bank executive Vitaly Sergeychuk, Gazprom-Media CEO Alexander Zharov, and Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Sergey Katyrin.

The program also features a session titled “Russia–UAE Innovation Track,” focusing on expanding technological collaboration. Speakers include representatives from Marathon Investment Group, Dubai Future Foundation, Invest in Sharjah, Innovation City, VisionLabs, Promobot, Magnit Tech and the RK-Medicine Foundation. The session will introduce the first accelerator program designed to help Russian tech startups build a long-term presence in the UAE.

A separate investment-focused discussion - Strategic Co-Investment Dialogue - will explore new tools for cooperation between sovereign investors and specialized funds and outline plans for a joint Russia–UAE investment platform.

The forum will close with a panel on the future of trade and logistics, featuring representatives from FESCO, RAKEZ, KEZAD, Grand Trade, Emirates Airlines, DP World and Akron Holding. The session will address the development of new export routes, diversification of cargo flows and the creation of modern multimodal transport links between the two countries.