His Highness the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, arrived on Thursday in Moscow, Russia, on an official visit. Sheikh Tamim and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Vnukovo International Airport by HE First Deputy Prime Minister, Denis Manturov and HE Russian Presidential Special Representative for the Middle East and North Africa and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mikhail Bogdanov, among other Russian officials.
During the visit, Sheikh Tamim and H.E. President Vladimir Putin will hold talks on bilateral relations and ways to enhance and develop them in various areas, in addition to developments in the region and key issues of mutual interest.
Commenting on the visit, Dmitry Dogadkin, Ambassador of Russia to Qatar, said that Sheikh Tamim’s visit to Moscow reflects the strength of the relations between the two nations, adding that Moscow and Doha proceed from the shared principles of mutual respect and account for the national interests of one another.
In a statement to QNA, Dogadkin noted that the Russian Federation has historically enjoyed very close ties with Middle Eastern countries, noting that both countries will mark the 37th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the states in 2025.
Russian, Qatar seek stronger trade ties
Dogadkin highlighted the cooperation between Russia and Qatar in the fields of energy, economy, trade and investment. He affirmed support for continued close coordination on the global gas market, above all, in the framework of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF). This contributes to securing a stable price balance, thereby serving the interests of both hydrocarbon producers and consumers.
The ambassador added that both sides recently confirmed their shared intention to increase and diversify Russian-Qatar trade ties in a number of fields, such as renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, transport and logistics, agriculture and food security, industry and state-of-the-art technologies.
“We are highly confident that the Russian economy, as well as the economy of Qatar, will continue to grow in the coming decades. The commercial activities of non-state actors reflect a sincere desire of the Russian and Qatari business communities to move ahead in our economic collaboration,” he added.
Talks to focus on cooperation in various fields
For his part, Sheikh Ahmed bin Nasser Al-Thani, Qatar’s Ambassador to Russia, stressed that Russia attaches great importance to Sheikh Tamim’s visit to Moscow. Regarding the key issues to be discussed at the Qatari-Russian summit, Sheikh Ahmed said that the talks will focus on bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries in various fields.
Commenting on the future of economic, trade and investment relations between Qatar and Russia, Sheikh Ahmed said in remarks to QNA, that there is great potential in the fields of economy and trade, noting that both countries are working to enhance cooperation in a way that aligns with this potential and serves their mutual interests.
On cooperation in the gas sector, the ambassador said that the two countries have extensive collaboration in this field and are working to strengthen it in order to achieve stability in the global gas market. He added that both countries are reinforcing their long-term strategic partnership in the gas sector, especially through cooperation within the GECF framework, noting that the Forum will be held next year in Russia, with Qatar, as a key member, actively participating in its meetings.
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Qatar, Russia investment funds partner on $1 billion projects
Sheikh Ahmed added that Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) are collaborating on projects valued at around $1 billion, and that larger-scale projects are currently under consideration for the near future. He explained that some agreements aim to develop new forms of cooperation in the energy sector, though final decisions on such matters lie with the relevant ministries and companies.
The ambassador added that approximately 180 Russian companies are operating in the Qatari market, including 14 companies in free zones, 6 wholly-owned companies, 105 joint venture companies, and 51 companies registered with the Qatar Financial Center.
In addition, QIA’s investments in Russia exceed $13 billion, covering sectors such as energy, banking and trade. Notably, Qatar holds a 18.9 percent stake in the Russian oil company Rosneft, 24.99 percent stake in the St. Petersburg Highway Project, 25 percent stake in Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, and 25 percent stake in Vnukovo Airport in Moscow.
Sheikh Tamim’s visit to the Russian Federation confirms the leadership’s keenness to build strong ties with major powers and decision-making centers around the globe, in line with the role Qatar plays at regional and global levels. Sheikh Tamim and President Putin will discuss avenues for bolstering ties between the two countries in multiple areas, further supporting the Qatar-Russia relationship at all economic, political, trade and energy levels.
