The Speaker of the Federation Council met with Speaker of the Federal National Council of the UAE Saqr Ghobash on the sidelines of the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Istanbul.
Relations between Russia and the United Arab Emirates are flourishing remarkably, despite the challenging international and regional environment. This was affirmed by Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko during her meeting with Speaker of the Federal National Council of the UAE Saqr Ghobash.
She emphasised the constructive nature and regularity of contacts between the heads of state, and the excellent collaboration between parliament members of the two countries, including through parliamentary friendship groups.
The Speaker of the Federation Council recalled that this year marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and invited parliament members to take an active part in events dedicated to this milestone.
Trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian collaboration was discussed, including in the context of the planned opening of a Russian university in Abu Dhabi in September 2026, which will provide training for both national Emirati personnel and foreign students. “Through parliamentary channels, we will support the implementation of this project,” stated Valentina Matvienko.
The Speaker of the Federal National Council of the UAE advocated for the consistent strengthening of bilateral inter-parliamentary dialogue.
The meeting participants also discussed issues on the current regional and international agenda. The Speaker of the Federation Council noted that in Russia, there is profound concern about the situation in the Persian Gulf. “People have suffered, there are victims, and I express my sincere condolences to your country,” said Valentina Matvienko. She elaborated on Russia’s efforts to broker a settlement agreement between the United States and Iran to ensure long-term peace and avert prolonged economic and environmental repercussions for the region and the entire world.
Saqr Ghobash expressed gratitude to Russia for its efforts. He shared insights on the developments in the region and their impact on the UAE.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev and Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Petr Tolstoy.