The Role of the UAE and Saudi Arabia in the Chinese Initiative "One Belt, One Road"

Cover Page

Cite item

Full Text

Abstract

The article examines the role of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in the implementation of the Chinese initiative "One Belt, One Road" as key partners in the Middle East region. The structure of trade and economic relations between China and the two Arab states, investment flows, participation in energy projects and digital transformation within the framework of the "Digital Silk Road" are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the impact of geopolitical and economic crises on bilateral relations, as well as the strategic importance of China's presence in the region. The study identified the specifics of China's interaction with the UAE and the KSA, their role in expanding Chinese influence and forming alternative global economic and technological alliances.

About the authors

Daria Sergeevna Sokolan

Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)

Author for correspondence.
Email: sokolan_d@pfur.ru
Scopus Author ID: 57224897932

Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of International Economic Relations at the Faculty of Economics

117198, Russia, Moscow, Miklukho-Maklaya st., 6

Kristine Araevna Mirzakhanyan

Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)

Email: 1032225930@pfur.ru

Student of the Institute of World Economy and Business at RUDN University, Digital Economy Department

117198, Russia, Moscow, Miklukho-Maklaya st., 6

Guzel Ildarovna Khusyainova

Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)

Email: 1132223988@rudn.ru

Student of the Institute of World Economy and Business at RUDN University, Department of World Economy

117198, Russia, Moscow, Miklukho-Maklaya st., 6

Daria Andreevna Osipova

Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)

Email: 1132226844@rudn.ru

Student of the Institute of World Economy and Business at RUDN University, Department of World Economy

117198, Russia, Moscow, Miklukho-Maklaya st., 6

References

  1. Avtomobilnyy rynok OAE [UAE Automotive Market]. Sostav.ru. Available at: www.sostav.ru/blogs/247016/44140 (accessed: 12.04.2025).
  2. Valiakhmetova G.N., German M.A. Sotrudnichestvo Kitaya i Saudovskoy Aravii v ramkakh proekta «Odin poyas, odin put»: dostizheniya i vyzovy [Cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia within the Belt and Road Initiative: Achievements and Challenges]. Uralskoe vostokovedenie: mezhdunarodnyy almanakh [Ural Oriental Studies: International Almanac], 2018, no. 8, pp. 124-134.
  3. Vzaimnaya vrazhda: SShA i Kitai edva ne obrushili mirovuyu ekonomiku. Kto ostalsya v vyigryshe? [Mutual Enmity: The US and China Almost Crashed the Global Economy. Who Benefited?]. Lenta.ru. Available at: https://lenta.ru/articles/2019/08/19/china_vs_us/ (accessed: 29.03.2025).
  4. Gudzenko A.E. Razvitie torgovo-ekonomicheskikh otnosheniy mezhdu Kitaem i Obiedinennymi arabskimi emiratami [Development of Trade and Economic Relations between China and the United Arab Emirates]. Rossiyskiy vneshneekonomicheskiy vestnik [Russian Foreign Economic Journal], 2021, no. 8, pp. 86-95. doi: 10.24411/2072-8042-2021-8-86-95.
  5. Dubai – idealnoye mesto dlya biznesa s Kitaem [Dubai – The Ideal Place for Business with China]. Alliance Dubai. Available at: https://alliance-dubai.net/nashi-uslugi/novosti-dubaya/fevral-2015/dubay-ideal-noye-mesto-dlya-biznesa-s-kitayem/?lang=ru (accessed: 29.03.2025).
  6. Kitai i arabskiye gosudarstva provedut forum po neftyanomu sotrudnichestvu [China and Arab States to Hold Oil Cooperation Forum]. RIA Novosti. Available at: https://ria.ru/20060601/48901657.html (accessed: 18.04.2025).
  7. Kitaysko-emiratskiye otnosheniya [China-UAE Relations]. Ruviki. Available at: https://ru.ruwiki.ru/wiki/Китайско-эмиратские_отношения (accessed: 29.03.2025).
  8. Krupneyshiye obvaly na neftyanom rynke [Major Oil Market Crashes]. TASS. Available at: https://tass.ru/info/8024531 (accessed: 02.04.2025).
  9. Lokshin G.M. Obostrenie krizisa v Yuzhno-Kitayskom more v 2014 g [The Escalation of the Crisis in the South China Sea in 2014]. Vetnamskie issledovaniya [Vietnamese Studies], 2015, no. 5, pp. 96-118.
  10. Neftyanaya strategiya Kitaya: diplomatiya i uvelicheniye vnutrennego proizvodstva [China’s Oil Strategy: Diplomacy and Boosting Domestic Production]. Profinance. Available at: www.profinance.ru/news2/2023/04/29/c8u4-neftyanaya-strategiya-kitaya-diplomatiya-i-uvelichenie-vnutrennego-proizvodstva.html (accessed: 12.04.2025).
  11. Pimenova A.O. «Odin poyas – Odin put» kak globalnyy ekonomicheskiy proekt Kitaya [The Belt and Road Initiative as China’s Global Economic Project]. Kontsept, 2020, no. 5, pp. 209-215. doi: 10.24411/2304-120X-2020-13011.
  12. Saudovskaya neft ukhodit v Kitai za dollary ili uzhe za yuani? [Is Saudi Oil Going to China for Dollars or Already for Yuan?]. Aftershock. Available at: https://aftershock.news/?q=node/783448&full (accessed: 02.04.2025).
  13. Strany Persidskogo zaliva i budushchee IT [Gulf Countries and the Future of IT]. Forbes Russia. Available at: https://blogs.forbes.ru/2023/10/17/strany-persidskogo-zaliva-i-budushhee-it/ (accessed: 02.04.2025).
  14. Borouge sozdayet sovmestnyy poliolefinovyy kompleks v Kitae [Borouge Establishes Joint Polyolefin Complex in China]. Plastinfo. Available at: https://plastinfo.ru/information/news/53716_25.07.2024/ (accessed: 12.04.2025).
  15. CGTN: infrastruktura, vaktsiny i kosmos – kitaysko-arabskoe sotrudnichestvo [CGTN: Infrastructure, Vaccines and Space - Chinese-Arab Cooperation]. Podrobno.org. Available at: https://podrobno.org/cgtn-infrastruktura-vaktsiny-i-kosmos-kitajsko-arabskoe-sotrudnichestvo/ (accessed: 29.03.2025).
  16. China / Saudi Arabia. The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC). Available at: https://oec.world/en/profile/bilateral-country/chn/partner/sau (accessed: 26.03.2025).
  17. China / United Arab Emirates. The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC). Available at: https://oec.world/en/profile/bilateral-country/chn/partner/are?selector1792id=pctOption (accessed: 26.03.2025).
  18. China, UAE sign 35 billion yuan currency swap: PBOC. Reuters. Available at: www.reuters.com/article/us-china-uae-currency-idUSTRE80G19020120117/ (accessed: 18.04.2025).
  19. China's Digital Footprint Grows in the Middle East & North Africa. Mapglobalchina. Available at: https://mapglobalchina.com/chinas-digital-footprint-grows-in-the-middle-east-north-africa/ (accessed: 07.05.2025).
  20. Coronavirus pandemic impact: Saudi Arabia oil exports plunge $11 billion in first quarter. Business today. Available at: www.businesstoday.in/latest/economy-politics/story/coronavirus-pandemic-impact-saudi-arabia-oil-exports-plunge-11-billion-in-first-quarter-260502-2020-06-07 (accessed: 02.04.2025).
  21. East meets Middle: China's blossoming relationship with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). Available at: https://ecfr.eu/publication/east-meets-middle-chinas-blossoming-relationship-with-saudi-arabia-and-the-uae/ (accessed: 07.05.2025).
  22. How China is gaining ground in the Middle East cloud computing race. Rest of world. Available at: https://restofworld.org/2025/china-cloud-middle-east/ (accessed: 07.05.2025).
  23. National Data. National Bureau of Statistics of China. URL: https://data.stats.gov.cn/english/easyquery.htm?cn=C01 (accessed: 24.03.2025).
  24. Realigning US-Saudi Relations for the AI Era. Middle East Institute (MEI). Available at: https://mei.edu/publications/realigning-us-saudi-relations-ai-era (accessed: 07.05.2025).
  25. Shkvarya L., Solovieva Y. The GCC countries: an innovative component of the economy. Russia and Asia, 2019, no. 4(9), pp. 32-42.
  26. Skiing in Saudi Arabia: Fantasy or genuine economic change? Deutsche Welle (DW). Available at: www.dw.com/en/skiing-in-saudi-arabia-fantasy-or-genuine-economic-change/a-62090850 (accessed: 02.04.2025).
  27. UAE Ecommerce Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025-2030). Mordor intelligence. Available at: www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/united-arab-emirates-ecommerce-market (accessed: 07.05.2025).
  28. What Saudi Vision 2030 Means for the Future of Oil-Dependent Economies. Glimpse from the globe. Available at: www.glimpsefromtheglobe.com/features/analysis/what-saudi-vision-2030-means-for-the-future-of-oil-dependent-economies (accessed: 02.04.2025).
  29. Wu X. Solovieva Yu.V. Development and Opportunities of Cross-border E-commerce from the Perspective of "The Belt and Road". Financial Engineering and Risk Management, 2022, vol. 5, no. 7, pp. 144-148. doi: 10.23977/ferm.2022.050717.

Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
Action
1. JATS XML
Download