Maksim Maksimov, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry
PARTNERSHIP STRATEGY
Today, Russia is successfully expanding economic and humanitarian partnership with the Gulf Cooperation Council: Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
Developing friendly relations with the Middle East has long been a priority of Russia’s foreign policy. Nowadays, much like back in the pre-revolutionary times and throughout the Soviet era, particular attention is given to strengthening comprehensive cooperation with the Arab world. Russia’s support for the peoples of the region has always been multifaceted. The Soviet Union helped to shake the yoke of colonial rule, establish sovereign independent states, develop modern economies, and foster culture. Tens of thousands of Arab students and trainees, who later formed the backbone of the national personnel system in many Arab countries, received education and training in Soviet and later Russian civil and military universities.
Today, Russia continues to successfully collaborate with its Middle Eastern partners, expanding its multidimensional ties and increasing the scope of material and humanitarian engagement. Among these, the Gulf states (Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia) hold a significant position, united since 1985 in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Diplomatic relations between Russia and these countries were established in the late 1980s to early 1990s—with Oman in 1985, the UAE in 1986, Qatar in 1988, and Bahrain in 1990. With two countries even earlier—the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (1926) and Kuwait (1963).
Strengthening cooperation with partners from the GCC is an important focus of Russian diplomacy. Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing anti-Russian campaign launched by the collective West on a global scale, there has been a notable increase in the dynamics of contacts at the highest and high levels. In December 2023, the Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. Between 2023 and 2025, Russia welcomed several dignitaries, including UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (who visited four times), King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar, and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said of Oman.
Dialogue continues at the level of foreign ministers, heads of parliaments, as well as through the Security Council of the Russian Federation, law enforcement agencies, and public organisations.
On November 1, 2011, Abu Dhabi inaugurated the Russia-GCC Strategic Dialogue format. Over the 14 years, this mechanism has proven its relevance and effectiveness, evolving into a unique platform for “synchronising watches” and coordinating approaches to key global and regional issues. It also serves as a forum for discussing the most significant matters of deepening business cooperation between our countries and expanding cultural and humanitarian ties. Seven sessions have been held alternately in Russia and the capitals of the GCC member states, with the next meeting scheduled to take place soon, on September 11, 2025, in Sochi.
Cooperation in economy and trade is flourishing, with the total trade turnover between Russia and the GCC increasing from USD 1.7 billion in 2011 to USD 12.3 billion in 2024. Total investments from the GCC in the Russian economy have exceeded USD 17 billion. There have been established intergovernmental commissions and business councils, which are successfully interacting with all GCC states. Collaboration is strengthening in the oil and gas sector, as well as in industrial cooperation, transport, healthcare, investments, finance, and energy, including renewables.
Joint efforts in cooperation with the GCC within the OPEC+ format ensure stability in the global oil market. In 2023, the GCC accounted for over half of the oil production among all OPEC members, totalling 17 million barrels per day. With that said, steps are being taken to enhance cooperation within the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
Arabian partners are actively engaged in relevant international forums held in Russia, including the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Between 2023 to 2025, the honoured guests of this event have included Qatar, the UAE, Oman, and Bahrain, with Saudi Arabia to take on this role in 2026.
Representative delegations from the GCC regularly participate in the International Industrial Exhibition “Innoprom,” the International Military-Technical Forum “Army,” and the International Forum “Russian Energy Week.” Likewise, Russian state and private entities attend similar events in the GCC states, including the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi, the Gulfood International Food Exhibition in Dubai, the DIMDEX International Maritime Exhibition in Doha, the BIAS International Aviation Exhibition in Manama, as well as the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh and the Saudi International Industrial Forum SIF, alongside the International Saudi Aerospace Forum.
Cooperation between Russia and the GCC nations in the humanitarian sphere is also developing at a rapid pace. During the official visit of Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in October 2024, Moscow’s Primakov Regional Gymnasium hosted the inauguration of the Russia-UAE Center for International Cooperation named after Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak in the presence of the Russian and UAE leaders. In January and February 2025, Manama and Muscat saw the successful launch of large-scale international cultural projects “Russian Seasons.”
Sports links are also actively expanding—the International Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament “Celestial Grace” in Doha on November 20-22, 2024, was a great success, and in December 2025, Abu Dhabi is set to host the second international multi-sport tournament “Games of the Future,” an event born in Russia, in the phygital format.
Undoubtedly, in recent years, the GCC has become an important subregional centre of the emerging multipolar world. Given the primary objective—ensuring the well-being and development of its member countries—it has the potential to expand its constructive influence well beyond the Council’s “borders.” Thus, deepening the partnership between Russia and the GCC perfectly aligns with the interests of the peoples of our nations. All the mentioned joint activities help harmonise plans and projects, outline new horizons for collaboration, and unite efforts for further progressive development. In this context, dialogue within the Greater Eurasian Partnership—an initiative proposed by the Russian President—based on enhancing the scale and scope of joint activities among existing integration institutions across Eurasia, appears particularly promising.
Considering the above, it can be assumed that the potential for cooperation between Russia and the esteemed format of the GCC is far from exhausted. Efforts to seek new ideas and projects capable of diversifying the interaction will continue.