08.04.2026
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What is it about? UAE export and import are the most important components of the country's economy. The United Arab Emirates is famous for its goods, which are popular all over the world. But the desert dwellers are not only skilled in selling, but also in buying what they need wisely, which is why today it is one of the major participants in world trade.
What are the relations with Russia? Russia is an importer and exporter of the UAE. In recent years, trade with the emirates has been actively developing in both directions, although it has its own specifics.
The United Arab Emirates is a country with a highly dynamic economic development rate. Advantageous geopolitical position, rich hydrocarbon reserves, and active innovation in the economy, coupled with a favorable investment climate, make the UAE a major hub for global business projects.
The Emirates play a significant role in global trade, being one of the countries most closely integrated into international economic processes.
According to the UAE Federal Competitiveness & Statistics Centre, the UAE exported goods worth 558 billion dollars in 2023. In 2022, this figure was 515 billion dollars. Import of various products into the country also shows positive dynamics:
In 2024, exports from the Emirates exceeded 309.7 billion dollars.
Exports include: oil and gas, aluminium, gold, plastic, precious stones. Hydrocarbons remain the main export item, but the share of non-energy goods is gradually increasing.
The UAE government's desire to diversify its economic ties has led to an increase in the volume of imported goods from various points around the globe. The UAE leadership confirms the significance of importing foreign goods through large investments in the development of logistics routes and infrastructure facilities.
Import into the Emirates includes clothing and fabrics, electronics, petrochemical products, food, construction materials, and consumer goods.
Image source: tawatchai07 / freepik.com
According to information from the UAE Ministry of Economy, the country's 10 main trading partners are China, India, the USA, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong and Russia. According to Russian Export Center (REC) data, annual non-resource trade turnover between the Emirates and these states grew by 26%.
Together, UAE export and import are a vivid example of successful diversification of trade flows, allowing the country to balance its trade and avoid dependence on a single sector.
The UAE satisfies most of its needs through import:
Main trading partners:
China and India are strategic partners, the EU and USA are a source of high technologies, and Africa is a sales market.
After the newly independent United Arab Emirates emerged in 1971, diplomatic relations were immediately established between it and the Soviet Union. Trade is built on the basis of the intergovernmental “Agreement on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation” from 1990. In addition to this, in 2018, Russia and the UAE signed a Declaration on the Strategic Partnership.
Export from the UAE and import into the UAE from Russia is the result of mutually beneficial exchange between the two countries based on an equal partnership. Primarily, petroleum products, bituminous mixtures, and coal are imported from the Russian Federation, accounting for approximately 40% of total exports, worth 2 billion dollars (in 2021).
There is great demand in the Emirates for luxury items, including precious stones. Russia, being one of the world's largest exporters of diamonds, occupies 2nd place in supplies of precious stones to the UAE (after Botswana). Thus, in 2021, rough diamonds (HS code 710231) constituted 25% of all Russian exports to the Emirates, worth 1.1 billion dollars.
Trade relations between Russia and the UAE are characterised by growth in trade turnover volumes. Over the last 5 years, this indicator has grown by 154% and reached the level of 9.5 billion dollars (according to 2024 information). The main reason for this has been the activation of parallel import processes and strengthening of mutual investment contacts.
In addition to precious metals and stones, Russian exports to the Emirates include minerals, petroleum refining products, ferrous and non-ferrous rolled metal, grain, vegetable oil, fish, and seafood.
Stable demand is also noted for agricultural products. This is due both to the fact that Russia is one of the largest exporters of food products, and to the challenging climate conditions in the Arab Emirates, which make it difficult to ensure food security of the country on its own.
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According to information from the federal centre Agroexport, published in February 2025, in 2024 the Russian Federation imported into the UAE about ten thousand tonnes of poultry meat. This is 2.2 times higher than in 2023. Of the total volume, 83% consisted of chicken carcasses and parts, turkey meat products accounted for about 17%, and duck meat about 1%. In total meat exports from Russia in 2024 amounted to over 700 thousand tonnes, an increase of 27%.
Key export items from Russia to the United Arab Emirates:
The UAE supplies the Russian market with equipment and components, fruits and vegetables, electronics and electrical engineering, beverages, plastics and polymers, as well as:
The range of goods is constantly increasing, which ensures close economic ties between the two countries.
The Emirates boast significant success in creating various equipment for the oil and gas industry, which includes drilling rigs, pumps, compressors, pipelines and other technical devices. There, alongside global leaders like National Oilwell Varco, local manufacturers such as Gulffusion or Lamprell hold strong positions.
The production of equipment for the construction, electrical, and metalworking industries is also noteworthy.
Black tea is also an export item to the Russian Federation. The climatic and environmental conditions of the Emirates do not allow them to produce this beverage. However, the UAE is a major international centre for purchasing, processing and retail sale of Indian, Ceylon and Kenyan tea.
Emirates legislation imposes strict rules and restrictions on foreign companies operating in the country. However, to stimulate investment in the economy, the government has established over forty-five free trade zones.
To optimise transport flows from Russia, both into the country and in transit through the state's territory, it is necessary to obtain a certificate (Permit For Export Strategic Goods) from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
A certificate does not need to be obtained if you:
CID (Crime Investigation Department) inspection is required for all shipments for which a MOFA certificate is issued, as well as in case of customs inspection or other checks. For more details, see below.
UAE customs processes imported and exported goods in the standard order:
Along with the declaration, a set of documents is submitted.
You will require at least:
Additionally, there may arise a need for information about both the product and the terms of its delivery: certificates, licences, and other documents.
When importing goods into the Emirates, it is necessary to comply with the requirements set by the Department of Economic Development and the Federal Customs Authority of the United Arab Emirates.
Legal entities registered in free economic zones import goods under simplified conditions, without paying customs duty. But there is a condition: the cargo must either be re-exported, or the goods will be used within the free economic zone. If goods are exported outside the free economic zone to the Emirates, the standard UAE import procedure applies, with all necessary taxes and duties paid.
For cargo import, a UAE company (consignee or agent) must submit the following package of documents (originals):
If the imported goods are subject to restrictions or are exempt from tax payments, an import document issued by the relevant department must be attached.
Import of food, animals and livestock products, animal feed, food additives, any alcohol, pork products and tobacco products into the UAE is impossible without prior approval from the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
For food products, the following will also be necessary:
The import of certain plant or animal products will also require documentation confirming the absence of radioactive contamination. Health products, dietary or baby foods, and other special products must have special labels containing detailed nutritional information.
Documentation for any import except food must pass preliminary approval at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Russia.
Importing certain goods into the Emirates, such as food products, may require an import permit.
Check the accuracy of the product code indicated in the documents. The UAE participates in the harmonised system of HS codes, and there are discrepancies between TN VED codes in Russia and in the Emirates.
A combination of factors played a role:
As a result, the city has become a global distribution hub, where goods are imported and then shipped to other markets without significant processing. The concentration of trade routes of Europe, Asia and Africa reduces transit times and costs for corporations.
Image source: Iwona Castiello d'Antonio / unsplash.com
Re-export constitutes up to 40% of all the UAE's foreign trade balance:
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
The United Arab Emirates has long since transformed from the world's main oil seller into an international trading hub. This happened thanks to a combination of factors: a favorable geographic location, a world-class infrastructure network, financial hubs, free economic zones, and a system of strategic agreements. Import and export from the UAE have a significant impact on the economic development of various countries, including Russia.
Article header image source: Iwona Castiello d'Antonio / unsplash.com
