On May 12, 2025, a webinar titled “The Digital Landscape of the UAE: New Horizons and Opportunities” was held, organized by the Center for Global IT Cooperation and the Digital Attaché Project Office of FGAU "CIT". Experts and business representatives discussed current prospects for Russian IT companies in the UAE, covering legal nuances and common pitfalls when entering Middle Eastern markets.
The event was part of a broader series aimed at systematically supporting Russian IT exports and strengthening ties with high-tech regions.
Leading speakers—including Alexey Sazinov (Head of the Digital Attaché Project Office of FGAU "CIT"), Mikhail Kudryavtsev (Digital Attaché to the UAE), legal experts from SEAMLESS Legal, and Vitaly Nechaev (founder of Vostok VR)—offered a step-by-step overview of market entry strategies. Topics included choosing the right jurisdiction (mainland, free zones, offshore), registering a business, tax implications, working with local clients, managing partnership risks, and available export support tools.
One of the key focuses was how Russian IT companies can receive support when entering the UAE market.
Alexey Sazinov emphasized the value of such webinars for companies planning international expansion:
“Webinars provide a first impression of the regional specifics, barriers, and growth points. The project office offers comprehensive consulting support—from reviewing marketing materials and developing export strategies to analytics and navigating government support programs. We work closely with the Center for Global IT Cooperation and jointly conduct business missions, including visits to exhibitions like GITEX in the UAE.”
Special attention was given to the following areas:
How to position your company in a highly competitive market;
Specifics of UAE legislation, including the new Double Taxation Agreement with Russia;
In-demand technology sectors: AI, cybersecurity, EdTech, and MedTech;
The role of digital attachés in supporting exports.
“In the UAE, artificial intelligence is a major priority. It’s being adopted across both the public and private sectors. At nearly every meeting with local partners, the question comes up: How exactly do you use AI? The second key trend is sustainability. The Emirates are investing in a green and resilient economy, and that affects how all tech solutions are perceived. If you’re entering this market, you need to decide: do you want to focus only on local customers or use the UAE as a regional hub? The country supports both strategies and creates the infrastructure to enable them,” explained Mikhail Kudryavtsev, Digital Attaché to the UAE.
Kate Smith, a corporate/M&A legal advisor, compared business setup models in the UAE and highlighted key free zones suitable for IT companies, as well as legal compliance requirements—such as licensing, taxation, banking services, and data protection.
Shermet Kurbanov, an intellectual property and digital law specialist, covered legal aspects of restructuring IT businesses and how to structure deals while developing products across multiple jurisdictions.
Maria Kabanova, a tax advisor, addressed cross-border settlements and the challenges businesses may face, along with practical solutions. She also explained the provisions of the newly signed Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between Russia and the UAE, including tax and transfer pricing implications now that the UAE is on Russia’s list of “offshore” jurisdictions.
A separate segment of the webinar focused on plans for the Center for Global IT Cooperation’s upcoming digital business mission to the UAE in October 2025, organized in conjunction with the GITEX Global exhibition in Dubai. Russian companies will have the opportunity to showcase their solutions directly to Arab partners.
“This webinar series, delivered by the Center for Global IT Cooperation and the Digital Attaché Project Office, is our joint contribution to systemic support for Russian IT exporters. In wrapping up this webinar, I’d like to stress: we’re not only sharing up-to-date information about legal and regulatory frameworks abroad—we’re helping companies avoid common mistakes, find their niche in global markets, and confidently promote Russian IT solutions worldwide,” concluded Vasily Zudin, Deputy Director of the Center for Global IT Cooperation.
The event was part of a broader series aimed at systematically supporting Russian IT exports and strengthening ties with high-tech regions.
Leading speakers—including Alexey Sazinov (Head of the Digital Attaché Project Office of FGAU "CIT"), Mikhail Kudryavtsev (Digital Attaché to the UAE), legal experts from SEAMLESS Legal, and Vitaly Nechaev (founder of Vostok VR)—offered a step-by-step overview of market entry strategies. Topics included choosing the right jurisdiction (mainland, free zones, offshore), registering a business, tax implications, working with local clients, managing partnership risks, and available export support tools.
One of the key focuses was how Russian IT companies can receive support when entering the UAE market.
Alexey Sazinov emphasized the value of such webinars for companies planning international expansion:
“Webinars provide a first impression of the regional specifics, barriers, and growth points. The project office offers comprehensive consulting support—from reviewing marketing materials and developing export strategies to analytics and navigating government support programs. We work closely with the Center for Global IT Cooperation and jointly conduct business missions, including visits to exhibitions like GITEX in the UAE.”
Special attention was given to the following areas:
How to position your company in a highly competitive market;
Specifics of UAE legislation, including the new Double Taxation Agreement with Russia;
In-demand technology sectors: AI, cybersecurity, EdTech, and MedTech;
The role of digital attachés in supporting exports.
“In the UAE, artificial intelligence is a major priority. It’s being adopted across both the public and private sectors. At nearly every meeting with local partners, the question comes up: How exactly do you use AI? The second key trend is sustainability. The Emirates are investing in a green and resilient economy, and that affects how all tech solutions are perceived. If you’re entering this market, you need to decide: do you want to focus only on local customers or use the UAE as a regional hub? The country supports both strategies and creates the infrastructure to enable them,” explained Mikhail Kudryavtsev, Digital Attaché to the UAE.
Kate Smith, a corporate/M&A legal advisor, compared business setup models in the UAE and highlighted key free zones suitable for IT companies, as well as legal compliance requirements—such as licensing, taxation, banking services, and data protection.
Shermet Kurbanov, an intellectual property and digital law specialist, covered legal aspects of restructuring IT businesses and how to structure deals while developing products across multiple jurisdictions.
Maria Kabanova, a tax advisor, addressed cross-border settlements and the challenges businesses may face, along with practical solutions. She also explained the provisions of the newly signed Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between Russia and the UAE, including tax and transfer pricing implications now that the UAE is on Russia’s list of “offshore” jurisdictions.
A separate segment of the webinar focused on plans for the Center for Global IT Cooperation’s upcoming digital business mission to the UAE in October 2025, organized in conjunction with the GITEX Global exhibition in Dubai. Russian companies will have the opportunity to showcase their solutions directly to Arab partners.
“This webinar series, delivered by the Center for Global IT Cooperation and the Digital Attaché Project Office, is our joint contribution to systemic support for Russian IT exporters. In wrapping up this webinar, I’d like to stress: we’re not only sharing up-to-date information about legal and regulatory frameworks abroad—we’re helping companies avoid common mistakes, find their niche in global markets, and confidently promote Russian IT solutions worldwide,” concluded Vasily Zudin, Deputy Director of the Center for Global IT Cooperation.
