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UAE and Russia unlock new trade opportunities as agreement takes effect
Trade in Services and Investment Agreement (Tisia) complements EAEU partnership, unlocking new opportunities in fintech, healthcare, transport and logistics sectors
- PUBLISHED: Sun 23 Aug 2026, 9:24 AM
The Trade in Services and Investment Agreement (Tisia) between the UAE and Russia has officially entered into force, marking a significant advancement in bilateral economic relations between the two countries.
The agreement will facilitate greater market access for services exports, strengthen protections for investors and create new opportunities for private sector collaboration across high-growth services sectors.
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Bilateral non-oil trade between the UAE and Russia reached $20.4 billion in 2025, a 77.7 per cent year-on-year increase compared to 2024, and nearly double the 2022 level of $10.8 billion.
The Tisia was signed earier this month in Moscow during the visit of the President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Russia. The agreement was signed by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, and Maxim Reshetnikov, Russian Minister of Economic Development.
The agreement provides a dedicated bilateral framework focused specifically on services and investment, complementing the Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which covers trade in goods at the regional level. Together, the two agreements establish a comprehensive architecture governing trade in goods, services and investment between the UAE and Russia.
'Full activation' of trade framework
“The entry into force of the UAE-Russia Tisia, alongside the Economic Partnership Agreement with the EAEU, represents the full activation of a comprehensive trade and investment framework that will unlock significant opportunities for businesses and investors in both nations,” said Al Zeyoudi.
“Russia is a major economic partner for the UAE, with bilateral non-oil trade reaching $20.4 billion in 2025, and this agreement will deepen collaboration across priority services sectors including fintech, healthcare, transport, logistics and professional services, driving long-term, sustainable growth and shared prosperity,” he added.
The Tisia aims to bolster collaboration across various high-growth services sectors.
By establishing clear rules and protections for services trade and cross-border investment, the agreement will reduce barriers to market entry, facilitate the movement of professionals and create a more predictable environment for businesses operating across both markets.
Russia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, a bloc comprising five nations with a combined population of 200 million and a GDP approaching US$5 trillion, with which the UAE signed an Economic Partnership Agreement in 2025.
The Tisia with Russia forms part of the UAE’s broader foreign trade agenda, which aims to increase non-oil foreign trade to $1.1 trillion by 2031. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) programme is a key pillar of this agenda.
Since its launch in September 2021, 38 Cepa agreements have been concluded with economies across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, with 18 currently in force. The programme reflects the UAE’s commitment to open, rules-based trade to drive economic growth, diversification and new opportunities for businesses in high-growth markets worldwide.
