President Sheikh Mohamed's official visit to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday reflects the desire of both countries to strengthen ties and further explore the future of a partnership that goes back many years.
Sheikh Mohamed will also attend the Brics summit in the Russian city of Kazan, from October 22 to 24, for the first time since the UAE was formally admitted last year as a member of the expanding economic and political alliance, which also includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
The relationship has developed significantly since Mr Putin made his first visit to Abu Dhabi in September 2007, meeting President Sheikh Khalifa, where he was presented with the Order of Zayed, the UAE's highest honour.
An official visit followed in October 2019, with President Putin returning again last December during the Cop28 UN Climate Summit.
During this last visit, Mr Putin said relations had “reached an unprecedented high level”, adding that the UAE was now Russia’s “main trading partner in the Arab world”.
Sheikh Mohamed travelled to St Petersburg in June 2023, where he told Mr Putin “we wish to build on this relationship, and we put our trust in you to do so”.
The UAE has since negotiated several exchanges of prisoners of war between Ukraine and Russia.
Potential for growth
Russia remains a major area for UAE investment, led by the sovereign wealth funds, Mubadala Investments and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. This summer the UAE became the first Arab country to partner with Innoprom, the global industrial exhibition held in Yekaterinburg.
Russia has also said it is keen to sign a free-trade agreement with the UAE, while Dubai was the host of a joint UAE-Russia investment forum this month. The countries have forged closer links on everything from energy to artificial intelligence and space technology, with a Russian rocket carrying the UAE’s first astronaut, Hazza Al Mansouri, to the International Space Station in 2019.
Mr Putin has previously said UAE investment outside the oil sector grew by 103 per cent in 2022, predicting in the future “it will be even more”.
Historic roots
The former Soviet Union was quick to recognise the UAE only six days after its founding on December 2, 1971, with the countries opening embassies in Abu Dhabi and Moscow in 1986 and 1987, respectively.
However, it has been during Mr Putin’s time in office that relations have noticeably strengthened.
Both countries have similar concerns about radicalisation and extremism. The UAE has supported Russian intervention in Syria, while Moscow condemned Houthi attacks on Abu Dhabi in 2022, supporting a UAE-sponsored arms embargo against members of the group in the UN.
Since 2017, Russians coming to the UAE received an automatic free 30-day visa when they step off the plane, while UAE passport holders can now get a visa on arrival in Russia. It has made the UAE an ever more popular destination for Russian visitors, with many now making the country their second home.
What can we expect from this week's visit?
The focus for Sheikh Mohamed's meeting with Mr Putin this week will likely be to improve bilateral collaboration.
The leaders will review efforts to strengthen ties in various sectors, including the economy, trade, investment and energy, state news agency Wam reported. Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Putin are also set to explore regional and international issues of mutual concern.
The UAE’s participation at the Brics summit is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties, particularly in the context of continuing global realignments, including the growing prominence of the bloc, according to industry analysts.
Watch: President Sheikh Mohamed meets Vladimir Putin in Abu Dhabi
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
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The Internet
Hive Mind
four stars
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Match statistics
Dubai Sports City Eagles 8 Dubai Exiles 85
Eagles
Try: Bailey
Pen: Carey
Exiles
Tries: Botes 3, Sackmann 2, Fourie 2, Penalty, Walsh, Gairn, Crossley, Stubbs
Cons: Gerber 7
Pens: Gerber 3
Man of the match: Tomas Sackmann (Exiles)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
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Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
