Russian ambassador: the community of immigrants from the CIS in the United Arab Emirates is the most active in the Middle East and North Africa.
Alexander Efimov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the UAE, in an interview for the most famous and influential newspaper Gulf News, said that the Russian community in the United Arab Emirates is the largest in the Persian Gulf and the most active in the region of the Middle East and North Africa.
The community consists of approximately 25 thousand Russian citizens and 15 thousand Russian-speaking immigrants from other countries.
"The UAE provides many opportunities for various business and cultural events, and Russians enjoy using them. They also warmly accept the Emirate's hospitality, a safe and favorable environment for this country," Yefimov added.
The Russian Council of Entrepreneurs in Dubai plays an important role in supporting economic ties between the two countries. The ambassador said that several Russian-language media, cultural clubs and women's associations also contribute to this.
“We are also very proud that there is a Russian Orthodox Church in Sharjah, which, incidentally, is a very rare occurrence in the Arab region as a whole and an absolutely unique situation in the Persian Gulf. This, in my opinion, is another striking example of a special attitude towards Russians in The UAE and clear evidence that our countries are indeed on the same side, "Yefimov said.
He also emphasized the importance of political relations, noting that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the UAE, has visited Moscow six times over the past four years. The ambassador said that during a recent visit in April 2017, Sheikh Mohammed and President Vladimir Putin focused on the strategic role of bilateral ties between Russia and the UAE.
Russia has strong economic, cultural and humanitarian ties with the Middle East. “Even geographically, we are very close,” the ambassador said.
“All political and military upheavals in this region can directly affect the national security of Russia, the life of its people, especially in regions where the majority of the population is Muslim,” the ambassador said. “Therefore, our country is making great efforts to conduct a responsible and transparent policies in the Middle East and North Africa region and the Islamic world as a whole. "
Russia and the UAE have created a $ 7 billion joint investment fund, which should become the basis of ambitious bilateral initiatives, said Alexander Efimov.
"At the moment, his resources are mainly directed to infrastructure projects in Russia; however, it opens up great opportunities for bilateral work for many years," he said.
Russia, according to the ambassador, has every chance to remain one of the key partners of the UAE in such areas as the aerospace industry and peaceful nuclear energy - both play an important role in the long-term development strategy of the UAE.
Alexander Efimov recalled that the Dubai police are now testing a flying motorcycle developed by a Russian company. The ambassador said that the Russian prototype of a flying taxi is also being tested in the UAE.
