UAE and Russia signed a Trade in Services and Investment Agreement (TISIA), cementing a dedicated framework for cooperation beyond the existing goods-focused arrangement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE’s Minister of Foreign Trade, described the agreement as a move to deepen economic relations with Russia and complete a series of bilateral pacts with EAEU members. He said similar services and investment agreements with Belarus and Armenia are already in force, and that negotiations with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan should conclude before the end of the year.
The deal covers fintech, healthcare, transport, logistics, and professional services, and aims to boost investment flows and support diversification strategies in both economies.
Non‑oil trade between the UAE and Russia reached approximately $11.5 billion in 2024, up nearly 5% from the previous year. In the first half of 2025, trade surged 75% year on year, reflecting rapid expansion in bilateral commerce.
The TISIA builds on the broader UAE–EAEU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which covers goods and liberalises 95% of trade volume and 85% of tariff lines between the UAE and the Eurasian bloc.
The UAE’s non‑oil foreign trade hit a record Dh3 trillion (around $817 billion) in 2024, a 14.6% increase from the previous year. Trade volumes with CEPA partner nations rose 42%, accounting for a quarter of total non‑oil exports. Concurrently, Abu Dhabi reported a 35% rise in non-oil trade during the first half of 2025, reaching Dh195.4 billion.
