As part of the business program of the World Urban Forum in Abu Dhabi, the Russian Ministry of Construction has agreed to cooperate with two countries at once.

The Russian Ministry of Construction signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of Housing of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the World Urban Forum WUF 2020, which is taking place in Abu Dhabi. The document was signed by Deputy ministers Nikita Stasishin and Abdullah Albadir. 

The cooperation program provides for cooperation in the field of investment project support, increased participation of Russian developers in the design and construction of new territories in Saudi Arabia, and the implementation of joint projects. In addition, the agreement will allow Russian companies to participate in construction projects in the kingdom with government support.

Nikita Stasishin commented that the memorandum had been prepared since the fall of 2019, when negotiations with Saudi Arabia began. "The signed document will allow Russia to share technologies for industrial housing construction, new approaches to shaping the urban environment and integrated development of the territory. The Saudis now have a request to build a large number of housing and create a new quality of life, especially in cities such as Riyadh, Dammam and Neom," the deputy minister said.

Also, as part of WUF 2020, the Russian Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services agreed to sign a similar document with the United Arab Emirates in the field of infrastructure technologies and urban digitalization. A memorandum of understanding is currently being prepared and will be signed at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June. 

The bilateral meeting also took place on the sidelines of the World Urban Forum, a forum created by the United Nations to discuss issues of urbanization, urban development, and climate issues, which is taking place on February 9-13 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.