MOSCOW, 5 November 2025: Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded the Medal of Pushkin to UAE Ambassador to Russia Mohammed Ahmed Al Jaber in a ceremony held in the Russian capital. The honour was conferred under a presidential decree dated 22 October 2025, citing the ambassador’s contributions to enhancing “cultural and people-to-people ties” between the United Arab Emirates and the Russian Federation.
Putin presents Pushkin Medal to UAE Ambassador Mohammed Al Jaber in Moscow. (Credit – WAM)
Ambassador Al Jaber accepted the award on behalf of the UAE diplomatic mission in Moscow. The official statement from the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE noted that the Medal of Pushkin is “one of the Russian state awards established in 1999” and is granted in recognition of achievements in cultural, arts and humanitarian fields including contributions to the study, preservation and promotion of cultural heritage.
The UAE ministry characterized the award as a recognition of Al Jaber’s role in supporting cultural diplomacy between the two nations. The decree issued by President Putin formally authorises the award and identifies Al Jaber as the recipient in view of his documented work to bolster interaction between Emirati and Russian communities. According to Russian and UAE official sources, the presentation ceremony took place in Moscow, although details such as the exact venue and attendees were not publicly disclosed in the statements.
The Medal of Pushkin was instituted by Russian presidential decree on 9 May 1999 and is awarded to both Russian citizens and foreign nationals for achievements in areas related to arts, culture, education and humanitarian effort. It is specifically intended to recognise contributions to promoting and preserving cultural heritage, as well as fostering mutual enrichment of different national cultures.
Medal of Pushkin recognizes UAE-Russia cultural diplomacy
In this instance, Al Jaber’s decoration follows earlier recognition of his diplomatic work. For example, in February 2023 he was awarded the Russian Federation’s Order of Friendship in recognition of his contributions to UAE-Russia relations. The current award underscores a continuing pattern of bilateral recognition.
The Russian statement emphasised that the award acknowledges Al Jaber’s “significant contributions to enhance cultural and people-to-people ties” between the two countries. The UAE ministry described the conferment as reflecting a commitment by both sides to cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
The presentation of the Medal of Pushkin to a foreign ambassador underscores the diplomatic dimension of cultural awards given by the Russian state. According to publicly available legal documentation, the Medal can be awarded to non-Russian nationals who have demonstrably advanced cultural or humanitarian cooperation with Russia.
Award underscores long-term diplomatic collaboration
The UAE embassy in Moscow issued a brief statement confirming the honor and noting the date of the decree. The Russian government’s online legal information portal lists the decree issued by President Putin on 22 October 2025, establishing Al Jaber as an official recipient of the Medal of Pushkin.
The recognition is part of the broader framework of UAE-Russia bilateral relations, which include diplomatic cooperation, cultural exchange programmes and people-to-people engagement. The award to Ambassador Al Jaber formally records one element of that cooperation in a diplomatic context. – By Content Syndication Services.