Rustam Minnikhanov: Tatarstan actively contributes to strengthening Russian-Emirati relations

On 26 August, speaking at his meeting with the Deputy Minister of Petrochemical Industry and Natural Resources of the United Arab Emirates Saif Saeed Ghobash Al-Marri on the sidelines of Tatarstan Petrochemical Forum, the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov emphasized that the republic actively contributes to strengthening Russian-Emirati relations. 

“It was a great honor for us to host the President of your country, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the BRICS summit in Kazan in October 2024. We can always feel his support in the development of our bond and implementation of joint projects,” he said.

The Rais of the republic noted that delegations from the republic take regular part in the Investments Forum and the IDEX International Exhibition in Abu-Dhabi and in their turn representatives of the UAE are permanent participants of the KazanForum and the petrochemical forum. 

Rustam Minnikhanov stated that currently there are all opportunities for developing trade and economic relations and Tatarstan interacts with the leading companies of the Emirates. There is a representative office of the republic in the UAE and there are direct flights between Kazan and Dubai and Sharjah. Joint work in the Strategic Vision Group “Russia-the Islamic world,” of which the Rais of the republic is the head of since 2014, also helps to strengthen cooperation, he said and emphasized that the republic attaches great attention to the interaction with the OIC and Kazan was given the status of the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World 2026. 

“We develop Islamic banking and financing tools in Russia, also including the rich experience of our Emirate colleagues. On top of that our republic also actively develops Halal industry,” Rustam Minikhanov said and proposed to organize a joint event with participation of   specialists from Tatarstan and the UAE and to present best practices in the in the field of improvement. 

In his turn Saif Saeed Ghobash Al-Marri thanked for the meeting and said: “It is my first time in Russia. I am happy that my acquaintance with your country started with the wonderful republic of Tatarstan. We will be glad to expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and as your region has huge experience in the development of the comfortable urban environment, we are interested in exchanging experiences.”