Russia and UAE strengthen agricultural cooperation agenda

Russia and the United Arab Emirates have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in agriculture and the agri-food sector following high-level talks held in Abu Dhabi. This is reported by the official website of Russia’s Ministry of Agriculture.

During a working visit to the UAE, Oksana Lut, Russia’s Minister of Agriculture, met with UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi. The discussions focused on current priorities and long-term prospects for bilateral engagement in agricultural development.

The United Arab Emirates remains one of Russia’s key trade partners in the Middle East and the Gulf region. Agricultural cooperation has emerged as a steadily growing area of interaction, supported by regular dialogue and participation in international platforms dedicated to food security and trade.

Bilateral trade in agricultural products reached approximately US$400 million in 2025. Russian exports are dominated by grain supplies, primarily wheat and barley, alongside frozen fish, poultry, sunflower oil, and legumes. The export of mineral fertilisers has also demonstrated strong growth, increasing fivefold over the past year, largely driven by complex fertiliser products.

Oksana Lut emphasised that further progress should go beyond trade volumes alone. “To unlock the long-term potential of cooperation in agriculture, it is essential to focus on new areas of interaction. Technological cooperation offers particularly strong opportunities,” she noted.

The ministers also identified land reclamation, combating desertification, plant breeding and seed production as promising fields for joint work. In addition, the meeting addressed cooperation within multilateral frameworks, including discussions on Russia’s initiative to establish a BRICS Grain Exchange as a tool to enhance food market stability and transparency.

Photo: Jevtic / iStock