Russian Business Council in the UAE strengthens business ties at SPIEF 2026

The delegation of the Russian Business Council (RBC) in the UAE took an active part in the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, held in St. Petersburg from June 3 to 6, 2026. The forum, held under the slogan “Pragmatic Dialogue – A Path to a Stable Future,” traditionally brought together representatives of government bodies, business, and the global investment community.

The participation of the Russian Business Council in the UAE in SPIEF marked an important step in strengthening the organization’s role as an effective platform for developing economic cooperation between Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and the countries of the Gulf region.

The Russian Business Council in the UAE was represented at the forum by RBC Chairman Kirill Podgorny, Deputy Chairman Roman Gavrilin, and Head of Government of the RBC Nikolay Sukhikh.

The involvement of the Council’s updated leadership was a logical continuation of its course toward expanding international business contacts and developing practical tools to support Russian companies in Middle Eastern markets.

One of the key events of the forum was a working meeting between RBC Chairman Kirill Podgorny and Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg Evgeny Grigoriev. The parties discussed prospects for expanding cooperation between the Government of St. Petersburg and the RBC. Special attention was given to supporting St. Petersburg-based companies interested in entering the markets of the Gulf countries.

Following the talks, an initiative was developed to establish an official representative office of the St. Petersburg Committee for External Relations in the United Arab Emirates on the basis of the RBC. This step is expected to help systematize business support efforts and strengthen trade and economic ties between the region and the Middle East.

Expanding Cooperation with Bahrain

An important focus of the delegation’s work was negotiations with representatives of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

During a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bahrain, the parties agreed to prepare an official visit of an RBC delegation to Manama. The visit is expected to include meetings with the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and members of the Kingdom’s business community.

These new contacts open additional opportunities for Russian companies seeking to expand their presence in the markets of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

According to RBC Chairman Kirill Podgorny, participation in SPIEF is aimed not only at expanding contacts but also at implementing concrete projects.

“Our goal is not simply to be present at key international platforms, but to create conditions for new projects and business initiatives. We are seeing steady interest from Russian businesses in the markets of the UAE and other Gulf countries, and the RBC continues to develop effective tools for companies entering the region,” he said.

Following the forum, the agreements reached are expected to be formalized into joint cooperation programs. The Russian Business Council is confident that the results of SPIEF 2026 will provide an additional impetus for the development of investment and trade relations between Russia, the UAE, and the countries of the region.