diff --git a/app/controllers/groups_controller.rb b/app/controllers/groups_controller.rb
index 2e0e611f8011feec824bd84d5dd096c9d1dd908e..edc17a741e0622254798daf325f2144835bbb247 100644
--- a/app/controllers/groups_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/groups_controller.rb
@@ -192,7 +192,11 @@ def transfer
   # rubocop: enable CodeReuse/ActiveRecord
 
   def export
-    export_service = Groups::ImportExport::ExportService.new(group: @group, user: current_user)
+    export_service = Groups::ImportExport::ExportService.new(
+      group: @group,
+      user: current_user,
+      exported_by_admin: current_user.can_admin_all_resources?
+    )
 
     if export_service.async_execute
       redirect_to edit_group_path(@group), notice: _('Group export started. A download link will be sent by email and made available on this page.')
diff --git a/app/models/project.rb b/app/models/project.rb
index bb2bb9a1854d30d4c11a98ac5f4ac51ccc3a8890..27b45932d83267a94eb57fba5bc4e47575be4c0d 100644
--- a/app/models/project.rb
+++ b/app/models/project.rb
@@ -2343,6 +2343,8 @@ def pipeline_status
   def add_export_job(current_user:, after_export_strategy: nil, params: {})
     check_project_export_limit!
 
+    params[:exported_by_admin] = current_user.can_admin_all_resources?
+
     job_id = if Feature.enabled?(:parallel_project_export, current_user)
                Projects::ImportExport::CreateRelationExportsWorker
                  .perform_async(current_user.id, self.id, after_export_strategy, params)
diff --git a/app/models/project_export_job.rb b/app/models/project_export_job.rb
index 65f40732bf83f7ccf55bf0ca6f8cd9fb78a2b3db..18f40255932cc99cdca71762853ab337d2985987 100644
--- a/app/models/project_export_job.rb
+++ b/app/models/project_export_job.rb
@@ -2,10 +2,12 @@
 
 class ProjectExportJob < ApplicationRecord
   include EachBatch
+  include AfterCommitQueue
 
   EXPIRES_IN = 7.days
 
   belongs_to :project
+  belongs_to :user
   has_many :relation_exports, class_name: 'Projects::ImportExport::RelationExport'
 
   validates :project, :jid, :status, presence: true
@@ -37,5 +39,28 @@ class ProjectExportJob < ApplicationRecord
     state :started, value: STATUS[:started]
     state :finished, value: STATUS[:finished]
     state :failed, value: STATUS[:failed]
+
+    after_transition any => :finished do |export_job|
+      export_job.run_after_commit_or_now do
+        audit_project_exported
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def audit_project_exported
+    return if Feature.disabled?(:export_audit_events, user)
+    return if exported_by_admin? && Gitlab::CurrentSettings.silent_admin_exports_enabled?
+
+    audit_context = {
+      name: 'project_export_created',
+      author: user,
+      scope: project,
+      target: project,
+      message: 'Profile file export was created'
+    }
+
+    ::Gitlab::Audit::Auditor.audit(audit_context)
   end
 end
diff --git a/app/services/groups/import_export/export_service.rb b/app/services/groups/import_export/export_service.rb
index 2d88283661c4b845116371dd42718b3b5b5d2985..e495e803e82858c76405227e2ffa767536c8cd9a 100644
--- a/app/services/groups/import_export/export_service.rb
+++ b/app/services/groups/import_export/export_service.rb
@@ -3,16 +3,21 @@
 module Groups
   module ImportExport
     class ExportService
-      def initialize(group:, user:, params: {})
+      def initialize(group:, user:, exported_by_admin:, params: {})
         @group = group
         @current_user = user
+        @exported_by_admin = exported_by_admin
         @params = params
         @shared = @params[:shared] || Gitlab::ImportExport::Shared.new(@group)
         @logger = Gitlab::Export::Logger.build
       end
 
       def async_execute
-        GroupExportWorker.perform_async(current_user.id, group.id, params)
+        GroupExportWorker.perform_async(
+          current_user.id,
+          group.id,
+          params.merge(exported_by_admin: @exported_by_admin)
+        )
       end
 
       def execute
@@ -27,7 +32,7 @@ def execute
 
       private
 
-      attr_reader :group, :current_user, :params
+      attr_reader :group, :current_user, :exported_by_admin, :params
       attr_accessor :shared
 
       def validate_user_permissions
@@ -50,6 +55,7 @@ def save!
         # it removes the tmp dir. This means that if we want to add new savers
         # in EE the data won't be available.
         if save_exporters && file_saver.save
+          audit_export
           notify_success
         else
           notify_error!
@@ -105,6 +111,21 @@ def log_info(message)
         )
       end
 
+      def audit_export
+        return if Feature.disabled?(:export_audit_events, current_user)
+        return if exported_by_admin && Gitlab::CurrentSettings.silent_admin_exports_enabled?
+
+        audit_context = {
+          name: 'group_export_created',
+          author: current_user,
+          scope: group,
+          target: group,
+          message: 'Group file export was created'
+        }
+
+        Gitlab::Audit::Auditor.audit(audit_context)
+      end
+
       def notify_success
         log_info('Group Export succeeded')
 
diff --git a/app/views/admin/application_settings/_import_and_export.html.haml b/app/views/admin/application_settings/_import_and_export.html.haml
index e1c2d727342151268c329c1e44af8f993556369a..c64b3c0b54e411880b39cb90ab38e09c9155093d 100644
--- a/app/views/admin/application_settings/_import_and_export.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/admin/application_settings/_import_and_export.html.haml
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@
     .form-group{ data: { testid: 'bulk-import' } }
       = f.label :bulk_import, s_('AdminSettings|Allow migrating GitLab groups and projects by direct transfer'), class: 'gl-font-weight-bold'
       = f.gitlab_ui_checkbox_component :bulk_import_enabled, s_('AdminSettings|Enabled')
+    - if Feature.enabled?(:export_audit_events, current_user)
+      .form-group{ data: { testid: 'silent-admin-exports' } }
+        - tag_pair_silent_admin_exports = tag_pair(link_to('', help_page_path('administration/settings/import_and_export_settings', anchor: 'enable-silent-admin-exports'), target: '_blank', rel: 'noopener noreferrer'), :silent_admin_exports_link_start, :silent_admin_exports_link_end)
+        - silent_admin_exports_label_text = safe_format(s_('AdminSettings|Silent exports by admins %{silent_admin_exports_link_start}%{icon}%{silent_admin_exports_link_end}'), tag_pair_silent_admin_exports, icon: sprite_icon('question-o'))
+        = f.label :silent_admin_exports_enabled, silent_admin_exports_label_text, class: 'gl-font-weight-bold'
+        = f.gitlab_ui_checkbox_component :silent_admin_exports_enabled, s_('AdminSettings|Enabled')
     .form-group
       = f.label :max_export_size, _('Maximum export size (MiB)'), class: 'label-light'
       = f.number_field :max_export_size, class: 'form-control gl-form-input', title: _('Maximum size of export files.'), data: { toggle: 'tooltip', container: 'body' }
diff --git a/app/workers/group_export_worker.rb b/app/workers/group_export_worker.rb
index f6f9a69fb173fcd54eb8fe0be556e9336ef13e30..7e1ecb9d9bde53ad7f624000a4f4aee09e68594f 100644
--- a/app/workers/group_export_worker.rb
+++ b/app/workers/group_export_worker.rb
@@ -14,6 +14,13 @@ def perform(current_user_id, group_id, params = {})
     current_user = User.find(current_user_id)
     group = Group.find(group_id)
 
-    ::Groups::ImportExport::ExportService.new(group: group, user: current_user, params: params).execute
+    params.symbolize_keys!
+
+    ::Groups::ImportExport::ExportService.new(
+      group: group,
+      user: current_user,
+      exported_by_admin: params.delete(:exported_by_admin),
+      params: params
+    ).execute
   end
 end
diff --git a/app/workers/project_export_worker.rb b/app/workers/project_export_worker.rb
index 1b969844884f76cb561c44e6ac375991edf556c2..0c3586e262677d75ea6051298c8a8e3c2e26ab59 100644
--- a/app/workers/project_export_worker.rb
+++ b/app/workers/project_export_worker.rb
@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@ def perform(current_user_id, project_id, after_export_strategy = {}, params = {}
     params.symbolize_keys!
 
     project = Project.find(project_id)
-    export_job = project.export_jobs.safe_find_or_create_by(jid: self.jid)
+    export_job = project.export_jobs.safe_find_or_create_by(jid: self.jid) do |job|
+      job.user = current_user
+      job.exported_by_admin = !!params[:exported_by_admin]
+    end
     after_export = build!(after_export_strategy)
 
     export_job&.start
diff --git a/app/workers/projects/import_export/create_relation_exports_worker.rb b/app/workers/projects/import_export/create_relation_exports_worker.rb
index ac5fd343a6ce9d07269bc35d74ae6605a70fe015..407e5003c241d4f4b5ab8d3a651de0df83b7272e 100644
--- a/app/workers/projects/import_export/create_relation_exports_worker.rb
+++ b/app/workers/projects/import_export/create_relation_exports_worker.rb
@@ -22,7 +22,12 @@ def perform(user_id, project_id, after_export_strategy = {}, params = {})
         project = Project.find_by_id(project_id)
         return unless project
 
-        project_export_job = project.export_jobs.find_or_create_by!(jid: jid)
+        params.symbolize_keys!
+
+        project_export_job = project.export_jobs.find_or_create_by!(jid: jid) do |export_job|
+          export_job.user_id = user_id
+          export_job.exported_by_admin = !!params[:exported_by_admin]
+        end
         return if project_export_job.started?
 
         relation_exports = RelationExport.relation_names_list.map do |relation_name|
diff --git a/config/audit_events/types/group_export_created.yml b/config/audit_events/types/group_export_created.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..1159ac5fdd7c21f14e960c1f3b3dad6d4712821a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/audit_events/types/group_export_created.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+name: group_export_created
+description: Triggered when a group file export is created
+introduced_by_issue: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/294168
+introduced_by_mr: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/TODO
+feature_category: importers
+milestone: '17.0'
+saved_to_database: true
+scope: [Group]
+streamed: true
diff --git a/config/audit_events/types/project_export_created.yml b/config/audit_events/types/project_export_created.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..f79ef9252b2bac11d10ee7c2700a1435a02ab9c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/audit_events/types/project_export_created.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+name: project_export_created
+description: Triggered when a project file export is created
+introduced_by_issue: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/294168
+introduced_by_mr: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/TODO
+feature_category: importers
+milestone: '17.0'
+saved_to_database: true
+scope: [Project]
+streamed: true
diff --git a/config/feature_flags/wip/export_audit_events.yml b/config/feature_flags/wip/export_audit_events.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a236a691d16d90a45cf1f50bfebc8cee1abcba51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/feature_flags/wip/export_audit_events.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+name: export_audit_events
+feature_issue_url: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/294168
+introduced_by_url: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/151278
+rollout_issue_url: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/458597
+milestone: '17.0'
+group: group::import and integrate
+type: wip
+default_enabled: false
diff --git a/db/migrate/20240426044935_add_user_id_to_project_import_job.rb b/db/migrate/20240426044935_add_user_id_to_project_import_job.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..47903060911907d04f9f1f798c67cbdbadf99e59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20240426044935_add_user_id_to_project_import_job.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+class AddUserIdToProjectImportJob < Gitlab::Database::Migration[2.2]
+  milestone '17.0'
+
+  disable_ddl_transaction!
+
+  def up
+    with_lock_retries do
+      add_column :project_export_jobs, :user_id, :bigint, null: true
+    end
+
+    add_concurrent_foreign_key :project_export_jobs, :users, column: :user_id, on_delete: :nullify
+  end
+
+  def down
+    with_lock_retries do
+      remove_foreign_key_if_exists :project_export_jobs, column: :user_id
+    end
+
+    with_lock_retries do
+      remove_column :project_export_jobs, :user_id
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/migrate/20240428214617_add_user_was_admin_to_project_export_job.rb b/db/migrate/20240428214617_add_user_was_admin_to_project_export_job.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e9049238c86f5ecbfa925b82d4113d8a3403de10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20240428214617_add_user_was_admin_to_project_export_job.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+class AddUserWasAdminToProjectExportJob < Gitlab::Database::Migration[2.2]
+  milestone '17.0'
+
+  def up
+    add_column :project_export_jobs, :exported_by_admin, :boolean, default: false
+  end
+
+  def down
+    remove_column :project_export_jobs, :exported_by_admin
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/post_migrate/20240429022431_add_index_to_user_id_project_import_job.rb b/db/post_migrate/20240429022431_add_index_to_user_id_project_import_job.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..66fbba182efa9526d7d3e81078eac193986c939c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/post_migrate/20240429022431_add_index_to_user_id_project_import_job.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+class AddIndexToUserIdProjectImportJob < Gitlab::Database::Migration[2.2]
+  disable_ddl_transaction!
+
+  milestone '17.0'
+
+  INDEX_NAME = :index_project_export_jobs_on_user_id
+
+  def up
+    add_concurrent_index :project_export_jobs, :user_id, name: INDEX_NAME
+  end
+
+  def down
+    remove_concurrent_index_by_name :project_export_jobs, INDEX_NAME
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/schema_migrations/20240426044935 b/db/schema_migrations/20240426044935
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..abf9046822294a7a11a0d1be63329e94e9895e9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/schema_migrations/20240426044935
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+2816cebd6241617e67b06864134d5f5eb6e5f6832328c3de7febba51856175b9
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/db/schema_migrations/20240428214617 b/db/schema_migrations/20240428214617
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..72443a98c99d972caf7252eadbbb84d53ab8b817
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/schema_migrations/20240428214617
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+db636595480e6e30be8f4c2ba3743429cb85fe82ef690320211af15219f48de0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/db/schema_migrations/20240429022431 b/db/schema_migrations/20240429022431
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..bddfbc3a3af63193a330426496642d7c6e18c8e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/schema_migrations/20240429022431
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+a68722503a1a916f8fbc276cba4239f2b62e5451b2b43514b1876b65603495eb
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/db/structure.sql b/db/structure.sql
index 64f611b5e2992848db0a674fde10c45ea4261f55..989dd8f4aafbc43415252ea3807bc54b19f20073 100644
--- a/db/structure.sql
+++ b/db/structure.sql
@@ -14414,7 +14414,9 @@ CREATE TABLE project_export_jobs (
     created_at timestamp with time zone NOT NULL,
     updated_at timestamp with time zone NOT NULL,
     status smallint DEFAULT 0 NOT NULL,
-    jid character varying(100) NOT NULL
+    jid character varying(100) NOT NULL,
+    user_id bigint,
+    exported_by_admin boolean DEFAULT false
 );
 
 CREATE SEQUENCE project_export_jobs_id_seq
@@ -26912,6 +26914,8 @@ CREATE INDEX index_project_export_jobs_on_status ON project_export_jobs USING bt
 
 CREATE INDEX index_project_export_jobs_on_updated_at_and_id ON project_export_jobs USING btree (updated_at, id);
 
+CREATE INDEX index_project_export_jobs_on_user_id ON project_export_jobs USING btree (user_id);
+
 CREATE INDEX index_project_feature_usages_on_project_id ON project_feature_usages USING btree (project_id);
 
 CREATE UNIQUE INDEX index_project_features_on_project_id ON project_features USING btree (project_id);
@@ -30372,6 +30376,9 @@ ALTER TABLE ONLY deploy_keys_projects
 ALTER TABLE ONLY packages_tags
     ADD CONSTRAINT fk_5a230894f6 FOREIGN KEY (project_id) REFERENCES projects(id) ON DELETE CASCADE;
 
+ALTER TABLE ONLY project_export_jobs
+    ADD CONSTRAINT fk_5ab0242530 FOREIGN KEY (user_id) REFERENCES users(id) ON DELETE SET NULL;
+
 ALTER TABLE ONLY dependency_list_exports
     ADD CONSTRAINT fk_5b3d11e1ef FOREIGN KEY (user_id) REFERENCES users(id) ON DELETE SET NULL;
 
diff --git a/doc/administration/audit_event_types.md b/doc/administration/audit_event_types.md
index 33637155f675c1809f83ed850b1f1948c438719d..ebe3e7d61c654ad9e3f8ab0d8de2852e8ff684ab 100644
--- a/doc/administration/audit_event_types.md
+++ b/doc/administration/audit_event_types.md
@@ -332,6 +332,13 @@ Audit event types belong to the following product categories.
 | [`squash_commit_template_updated`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/107533) | Event triggered on updating the merge request squash commit template for a project| **{check-circle}** Yes | **{check-circle}** Yes | GitLab [15.8](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/369314) | Project |
 | [`squash_option_updated`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/84624) | Triggered when squash option setting has been changed.| **{check-circle}** Yes | **{check-circle}** Yes | GitLab [15.0](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/301124) | Project |
 
+### Importers
+
+| Name | Description | Saved to database | Streamed | Introduced in | Scope |
+|:------------|:------------|:------------------|:---------|:--------------|:--------------|
+| [`group_export_created`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/TODO) | Triggered when a group file export is created| **{check-circle}** Yes | **{check-circle}** Yes | GitLab [17.0](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/294168) | Group |
+| [`project_export_created`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/TODO) | Triggered when a project file export is created| **{check-circle}** Yes | **{check-circle}** Yes | GitLab [17.0](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/294168) | Project |
+
 ### Incident management
 
 | Name | Description | Saved to database | Streamed | Introduced in | Scope |
diff --git a/doc/administration/settings/import_and_export_settings.md b/doc/administration/settings/import_and_export_settings.md
index d42a6b328f043daf48f8a51f6f3cf744d248e398..221bfb843bdf45c65efce960f8fafa1c92f7ede1 100644
--- a/doc/administration/settings/import_and_export_settings.md
+++ b/doc/administration/settings/import_and_export_settings.md
@@ -66,6 +66,24 @@ The same setting
 [is available](../../api/settings.md#list-of-settings-that-can-be-accessed-via-api-calls) in the API as the
 `bulk_import_enabled` attribute.
 
+## Enable silent admin exports
+
+> - [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/151278) in GitLab 17.0 [with a flag](../../administration/feature_flags.md) named `export_audit_events`. Disabled by default.
+
+FLAG:
+The availability of this feature is controlled by a feature flag. For more information, see the history.
+
+Enable silent admin exports to prevent [audit events](../audit_event_reports.md) when
+instance administrators trigger a [project or group file export](../../user/project/settings/import_export.md).
+Exports from non-administrators still generate audit events.
+
+To enable silent admin project and group file exports:
+
+1. On the left sidebar, at the bottom, select **Admin Area**.
+1. Select **Settings > General**, then expand **Import and export settings**.
+1. Scroll to **Silent exports by admins**.
+1. Select the **Enabled** checkbox.
+
 ## Max export size
 
 > - [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/86124) in GitLab 15.0.
diff --git a/doc/api/settings.md b/doc/api/settings.md
index 5cf87a2ebbba4cdccc51390b174643c36d65b748..e6dd95291d638830794000bdbc515b8900d28e7c 100644
--- a/doc/api/settings.md
+++ b/doc/api/settings.md
@@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ listed in the descriptions of the relevant settings.
 | `sidekiq_job_limiter_limit_bytes`                 | integer | no                                   | The threshold in bytes at which Sidekiq jobs are rejected. Default: 0 bytes (doesn't reject any job). |
 | `signin_enabled`                         | string           | no                                   | (Deprecated: Use `password_authentication_enabled_for_web` instead) Flag indicating if password authentication is enabled for the web interface. |
 | `signup_enabled`                         | boolean          | no                                   | Enable registration. Default is `true`. |
-| `silent_admin_exports_enabled`           | boolean          | no                                   | Enable silent exports for administrators. Default is `false`. |
+| `silent_admin_exports_enabled`           | boolean          | no                                   | Enable [Silent admin exports](../administration/settings/import_and_export_settings.md#enable-silent-admin-exports). Default is `false`. |
 | `silent_mode_enabled`                    | boolean          | no                                   | Enable [Silent mode](../administration/silent_mode/index.md). Default is `false`. |
 | `slack_app_enabled`                      | boolean          | no                                   | (**If enabled, requires:** `slack_app_id`, `slack_app_secret`, `slack_app_signing_secret`, and `slack_app_verification_token`) Enable the GitLab for Slack app. |
 | `slack_app_id`                           | string           | required by: `slack_app_enabled`     | The client ID of the GitLab for Slack app. |
diff --git a/ee/spec/services/ee/groups/import_export/export_service_spec.rb b/ee/spec/services/ee/groups/import_export/export_service_spec.rb
index 89d6081dd193a86ceb54f930bf19634ff38c9c2b..564564084423e538df3bbca9146ecd31c06f9589 100644
--- a/ee/spec/services/ee/groups/import_export/export_service_spec.rb
+++ b/ee/spec/services/ee/groups/import_export/export_service_spec.rb
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
   let(:shared) { Gitlab::ImportExport::Shared.new(group) }
   let(:archive_path) { shared.archive_path }
 
-  subject(:export_service) { described_class.new(group: group, user: user, params: { shared: shared }) }
+  subject(:export_service) { described_class.new(group: group, user: user, exported_by_admin: false, params: { shared: shared }) }
 
   after do
     FileUtils.rm_rf(archive_path)
diff --git a/lib/api/group_export.rb b/lib/api/group_export.rb
index 819cc4652f6c1bd037e719a42859dbeb4838adac..2ad592740cf2fe8d6d1d48c1c2322d9a036b7d37 100644
--- a/lib/api/group_export.rb
+++ b/lib/api/group_export.rb
@@ -55,7 +55,11 @@ class GroupExport < ::API::Base
       post ':id/export' do
         check_rate_limit! :group_export, scope: current_user
 
-        export_service = ::Groups::ImportExport::ExportService.new(group: user_group, user: current_user)
+        export_service = ::Groups::ImportExport::ExportService.new(
+          group: user_group,
+          user: current_user,
+          exported_by_admin: current_user.can_admin_all_resources?
+        )
 
         if export_service.async_execute
           accepted!
diff --git a/locale/gitlab.pot b/locale/gitlab.pot
index 8dc14d2afdd790a55e83db8e68139d4c9a5bb676..8563c32e02ce1465f4d6c1517f667490c3a28230 100644
--- a/locale/gitlab.pot
+++ b/locale/gitlab.pot
@@ -3929,6 +3929,9 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "AdminSettings|Show a redirect page that warns you about user-generated content in GitLab Pages."
 msgstr ""
 
+msgid "AdminSettings|Silent exports by admins %{silent_admin_exports_link_start}%{icon}%{silent_admin_exports_link_end}"
+msgstr ""
+
 msgid "AdminSettings|Size and domain settings for Pages static sites."
 msgstr ""
 
diff --git a/spec/controllers/groups_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/groups_controller_spec.rb
index fd1e6d7c66af3055faf6f69682de59dd9bf31688..7f9bf700e0c68bf602559201008a2a1e9a42ced3 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/groups_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/groups_controller_spec.rb
@@ -1187,12 +1187,6 @@ def group_moved_message(redirect_route, group)
   end
 
   describe 'POST #export' do
-    let(:admin) { create(:admin) }
-
-    before do
-      enable_admin_mode!(admin)
-    end
-
     context 'when the user does not have permission to export the group' do
       before do
         sign_in(guest)
@@ -1205,13 +1199,13 @@ def group_moved_message(redirect_route, group)
       end
     end
 
-    context 'when supplied valid params' do
+    context 'when the user has permission to export the group' do
       before do
-        sign_in(admin)
+        sign_in(user)
       end
 
       it 'triggers the export job' do
-        expect(GroupExportWorker).to receive(:perform_async).with(admin.id, group.id, {})
+        expect(GroupExportWorker).to receive(:perform_async).with(user.id, group.id, { exported_by_admin: false })
 
         post :export, params: { id: group.to_param }
       end
@@ -1223,9 +1217,21 @@ def group_moved_message(redirect_route, group)
       end
     end
 
+    context 'when user is admin' do
+      before do
+        sign_in(admin_with_admin_mode)
+      end
+
+      it 'triggers the export job, and passes `exported_by_admin` correctly in the `params` hash' do
+        expect(GroupExportWorker).to receive(:perform_async).with(admin_with_admin_mode.id, group.id, { exported_by_admin: true })
+
+        post :export, params: { id: group.to_param }
+      end
+    end
+
     context 'when the endpoint receives requests above the rate limit' do
       before do
-        sign_in(admin)
+        sign_in(user)
 
         allow_next_instance_of(Gitlab::ApplicationRateLimiter::BaseStrategy) do |strategy|
           allow(strategy)
diff --git a/spec/factories/project_export_jobs.rb b/spec/factories/project_export_jobs.rb
index bf8cfd863ec0771e5eadf2c1ddea7eac205647c2..296c5cad5a9f122be0a1acd8e19516764e6e2b72 100644
--- a/spec/factories/project_export_jobs.rb
+++ b/spec/factories/project_export_jobs.rb
@@ -20,5 +20,7 @@
     trait :failed do
       status { ProjectExportJob::STATUS[:failed] }
     end
+
+    exported_by_admin { user&.can_admin_all_resources? }
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/features/admin/admin_settings_spec.rb b/spec/features/admin/admin_settings_spec.rb
index ad08dcb638667355f2bfd4deb49fbfcfb840bf34..0823909cfc78f08f99886d1aabc8aedc662e3358 100644
--- a/spec/features/admin/admin_settings_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/admin/admin_settings_spec.rb
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@
       end
 
       it 'change Visibility and Access Controls' do
+        expect(current_settings.project_export_enabled).to be(true)
+        expect(current_settings.bulk_import_enabled).to be(false)
+        expect(current_settings.silent_admin_exports_enabled).to be(false)
+
         within_testid('admin-import-export-settings') do
           within_testid('project-export') do
             uncheck 'Enabled'
@@ -72,14 +76,30 @@
             check 'Enabled'
           end
 
+          within_testid('silent-admin-exports') do
+            check 'Enabled'
+          end
+
           click_button 'Save changes'
         end
 
-        expect(current_settings.project_export_enabled).to be_falsey
+        expect(current_settings.project_export_enabled).to be(false)
         expect(current_settings.bulk_import_enabled).to be(true)
+        expect(current_settings.silent_admin_exports_enabled).to be(true)
         expect(page).to have_content 'Application settings saved successfully'
       end
 
+      context 'when `export_audit_events` flag is disabled' do
+        before do
+          stub_feature_flags(export_audit_events: false)
+          visit general_admin_application_settings_path
+        end
+
+        it 'does not display the silent admin exports setting' do
+          expect(page).not_to have_selector('[data-testid="silent-admin-exports"]')
+        end
+      end
+
       it 'change Keys settings' do
         within_testid('admin-visibility-access-settings') do
           select 'Are forbidden', from: 'RSA SSH keys'
diff --git a/spec/models/project_export_job_spec.rb b/spec/models/project_export_job_spec.rb
index 79fe4af22880dc2713b97b38f4a3a737d184910f..a06cf995d69ab4ce7948756408fa928db97496fe 100644
--- a/spec/models/project_export_job_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/project_export_job_spec.rb
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 RSpec.describe ProjectExportJob, feature_category: :importers, type: :model do
   describe 'associations' do
     it { is_expected.to belong_to(:project) }
+    it { is_expected.to belong_to(:user) }
     it { is_expected.to have_many(:relation_exports) }
   end
 
@@ -105,4 +106,73 @@
       end
     end
   end
+
+  describe '#finish' do
+    let_it_be(:user) { create(:user) }
+    let_it_be(:project) { create(:project) }
+
+    let(:export_job) { build(:project_export_job, :started, user: user, project: project) }
+
+    let(:expected_audit) do
+      {
+        name: 'project_export_created',
+        author: user,
+        scope: project,
+        target: project,
+        message: 'Profile file export was created'
+      }
+    end
+
+    subject(:finish) { export_job.finish }
+
+    it 'creates an audit event' do
+      expect(Gitlab::Audit::Auditor).to receive(:audit).with(expected_audit)
+
+      finish
+    end
+
+    context 'when the flag is disabled' do
+      before do
+        stub_feature_flags(export_audit_events: false)
+      end
+
+      it 'does not create an audit event' do
+        expect(Gitlab::Audit::Auditor).not_to receive(:audit)
+
+        finish
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when user is nil' do
+      let_it_be(:user) { nil }
+
+      it 'creates an audit event' do
+        expect(Gitlab::Audit::Auditor).to receive(:audit).with(expected_audit)
+
+        finish
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when user was admin', :enable_admin_mode do
+      let_it_be(:user) { create(:admin) }
+
+      it 'creates an audit event' do
+        expect(Gitlab::Audit::Auditor).to receive(:audit).with(expected_audit)
+
+        finish
+      end
+
+      context 'when silent exports enabled' do
+        before do
+          stub_application_setting(silent_admin_exports_enabled: true)
+        end
+
+        it 'does not create an audit event' do
+          expect(Gitlab::Audit::Auditor).not_to receive(:audit)
+
+          finish
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/models/project_spec.rb b/spec/models/project_spec.rb
index c79d13312a81a7835f10c701052f8e684a500471..1aa0792739c3e5b12cd415a2855497b3390ecd74 100644
--- a/spec/models/project_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/project_spec.rb
@@ -7822,16 +7822,28 @@ def has_external_wiki
 
   describe '#add_export_job' do
     let_it_be(:user) { create(:user) }
-    let_it_be(:project) { create(:project) }
+    let_it_be_with_reload(:project) { create(:project) }
 
     context 'when parallel_project_export feature flag is enabled' do
       it 'enqueues CreateionProjectExportWorker' do
         expect(Projects::ImportExport::CreateRelationExportsWorker)
           .to receive(:perform_async)
-          .with(user.id, project.id, nil, {})
+          .with(user.id, project.id, nil, { exported_by_admin: false })
 
         project.add_export_job(current_user: user)
       end
+
+      context 'when user is admin', :enable_admin_mode do
+        let_it_be(:user) { create(:admin) }
+
+        it 'passes `exported_by_admin` correctly in the `params` hash' do
+          expect(Projects::ImportExport::CreateRelationExportsWorker)
+          .to receive(:perform_async)
+          .with(user.id, project.id, nil, { exported_by_admin: true })
+
+          project.add_export_job(current_user: user)
+        end
+      end
     end
 
     context 'when parallel_project_export feature flag is disabled' do
@@ -7839,18 +7851,28 @@ def has_external_wiki
         stub_feature_flags(parallel_project_export: false)
       end
 
-      it 'enquques ProjectExportWorker' do
-        expect(ProjectExportWorker).to receive(:perform_async).with(user.id, project.id, nil, {})
+      it 'enqueues ProjectExportWorker' do
+        expect(ProjectExportWorker).to receive(:perform_async).with(user.id, project.id, nil, { exported_by_admin: false })
 
         project.add_export_job(current_user: user)
       end
 
+      context 'when user is admin', :enable_admin_mode do
+        let_it_be(:user) { create(:admin) }
+
+        it 'passes `exported_by_admin` correctly in the `params` hash' do
+          expect(ProjectExportWorker).to receive(:perform_async).with(user.id, project.id, nil, { exported_by_admin: true })
+
+          project.add_export_job(current_user: user)
+        end
+      end
+
       context 'when project storage_size does not exceed the application setting max_export_size' do
         it 'starts project export worker' do
           stub_application_setting(max_export_size: 1)
           allow(project.statistics).to receive(:storage_size).and_return(0.megabytes)
 
-          expect(ProjectExportWorker).to receive(:perform_async).with(user.id, project.id, nil, {})
+          expect(ProjectExportWorker).to receive(:perform_async).with(user.id, project.id, nil, { exported_by_admin: false })
 
           project.add_export_job(current_user: user)
         end
@@ -7861,7 +7883,7 @@ def has_external_wiki
           stub_application_setting(max_export_size: 1)
           allow(project.statistics).to receive(:storage_size).and_return(2.megabytes)
 
-          expect(ProjectExportWorker).not_to receive(:perform_async).with(user.id, project.id, nil, {})
+          expect(ProjectExportWorker).not_to receive(:perform_async)
           expect { project.add_export_job(current_user: user) }.to raise_error(Project::ExportLimitExceeded)
         end
       end
@@ -7869,7 +7891,7 @@ def has_external_wiki
       context 'when application setting max_export_size is not set' do
         it 'starts project export worker' do
           allow(project.statistics).to receive(:storage_size).and_return(2.megabytes)
-          expect(ProjectExportWorker).to receive(:perform_async).with(user.id, project.id, nil, {})
+          expect(ProjectExportWorker).to receive(:perform_async).with(user.id, project.id, nil, { exported_by_admin: false })
 
           project.add_export_job(current_user: user)
         end
diff --git a/spec/requests/api/group_export_spec.rb b/spec/requests/api/group_export_spec.rb
index 1034fe845c61ee03c8212e7063adea7af3f39054..7348af2d318eafd67766d1ef052bc8669fd4c23c 100644
--- a/spec/requests/api/group_export_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/requests/api/group_export_spec.rb
@@ -119,6 +119,34 @@
 
         expect(response).to have_gitlab_http_status(:accepted)
       end
+
+      it 'calls the service correctly' do
+        expect_next_instance_of(Groups::ImportExport::ExportService,
+          group: group,
+          user: user,
+          exported_by_admin: false
+        ) do |service|
+          expect(service).to receive(:async_execute).and_return(true)
+        end
+
+        post api(path, user)
+      end
+
+      context 'when user is an admin', :enable_admin_mode do
+        let_it_be(:user) { create(:admin) }
+
+        it 'calls the service correctly' do
+          expect_next_instance_of(Groups::ImportExport::ExportService,
+            group: group,
+            user: user,
+            exported_by_admin: true
+          ) do |service|
+            expect(service).to receive(:async_execute).and_return(true)
+          end
+
+          post api(path, user)
+        end
+      end
     end
 
     context 'when the export cannot be started' do
diff --git a/spec/services/groups/import_export/export_service_spec.rb b/spec/services/groups/import_export/export_service_spec.rb
index c44c2e3b911b9b487ee63becdc115e2844a179a6..b4db9a77c3b7f6af8a7fd312fd5687511de57299 100644
--- a/spec/services/groups/import_export/export_service_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/groups/import_export/export_service_spec.rb
@@ -3,15 +3,19 @@
 require 'spec_helper'
 
 RSpec.describe Groups::ImportExport::ExportService, feature_category: :importers do
-  describe '#async_execute' do
-    let(:user) { create(:user) }
-    let(:group) { create(:group) }
+  let_it_be(:user) { create(:user) }
+  let_it_be_with_refind(:group) { create(:group) }
+
+  let(:exported_by_admin) { false }
 
+  describe '#async_execute' do
     context 'when the job can be successfully scheduled' do
-      let(:export_service) { described_class.new(group: group, user: user) }
+      let(:export_service) { described_class.new(group: group, user: user, exported_by_admin: exported_by_admin) }
 
       it 'enqueues an export job' do
-        allow(GroupExportWorker).to receive(:perform_async).with(user.id, group.id, {})
+        expect(GroupExportWorker)
+          .to receive(:perform_async)
+          .with(user.id, group.id, { exported_by_admin: exported_by_admin })
 
         export_service.async_execute
       end
@@ -19,10 +23,20 @@
       it 'returns truthy' do
         expect(export_service.async_execute).to be_present
       end
+
+      context 'when the user was an admin' do
+        let(:exported_by_admin) { true }
+
+        it 'passes `exported_by_admin` correctly in the `params` hash' do
+          expect(GroupExportWorker).to receive(:perform_async).with(user.id, group.id, { exported_by_admin: true })
+
+          export_service.async_execute
+        end
+      end
     end
 
     context 'when the job cannot be scheduled' do
-      let(:export_service) { described_class.new(group: group, user: user) }
+      let(:export_service) { described_class.new(group: group, user: user, exported_by_admin: exported_by_admin) }
 
       before do
         allow(GroupExportWorker).to receive(:perform_async).and_return(nil)
@@ -35,13 +49,18 @@
   end
 
   describe '#execute' do
-    let!(:user) { create(:user) }
-    let(:group) { create(:group) }
     let(:shared) { Gitlab::ImportExport::Shared.new(group) }
     let(:archive_path) { shared.archive_path }
-    let(:service) { described_class.new(group: group, user: user, params: { shared: shared }) }
+    let(:service) do
+      described_class.new(
+        group: group,
+        user: user,
+        exported_by_admin: exported_by_admin,
+        params: { shared: shared }
+      )
+    end
 
-    before do
+    before_all do
       group.add_owner(user)
     end
 
@@ -79,6 +98,58 @@
       service.execute
     end
 
+    it 'creates an audit event' do
+      expect(Gitlab::Audit::Auditor).to receive(:audit).with(
+        {
+          name: 'group_export_created',
+          author: user,
+          scope: group,
+          target: group,
+          message: 'Group file export was created'
+        }
+      )
+
+      service.execute
+    end
+
+    context 'when the flag is disabled' do
+      before do
+        stub_feature_flags(export_audit_events: false)
+      end
+
+      it 'does not create an audit event' do
+        expect(Gitlab::Audit::Auditor).not_to receive(:audit)
+
+        service.execute
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when the user was an admin' do
+      let(:exported_by_admin) { true }
+
+      it 'logs group exported audit event' do
+        expect(Gitlab::Audit::Auditor).to receive(:audit).with(hash_including(name: 'group_export_created'))
+
+        service.execute
+      end
+
+      context 'when silent exports are enabled' do
+        before do
+          stub_application_setting(silent_admin_exports_enabled: true)
+        end
+
+        it 'does not create an audit event' do
+          expect(Gitlab::Audit::Auditor).not_to receive(:audit)
+
+          expect { service.execute }.not_to change { AuditEvent.count }
+        end
+
+        it 'does not create any Todos' do
+          expect { service.execute }.not_to change { Todo.count }
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
     context 'when saver succeeds' do
       it 'saves the group in the file system' do
         service.execute
@@ -90,8 +161,16 @@
     end
 
     context 'when user does not have admin_group permission' do
-      let!(:another_user) { create(:user) }
-      let(:service) { described_class.new(group: group, user: another_user, params: { shared: shared }) }
+      let_it_be(:another_user) { create(:user) }
+
+      let(:service) do
+        described_class.new(
+          group: group,
+          user: another_user,
+          exported_by_admin: exported_by_admin,
+          params: { shared: shared }
+        )
+      end
 
       let(:expected_message) do
         "User with ID: %s does not have required permissions for Group: %s with ID: %s" %
@@ -173,7 +252,7 @@
     end
 
     context 'when there is an existing export file' do
-      subject(:export_service) { described_class.new(group: group, user: user) }
+      subject(:export_service) { described_class.new(group: group, user: user, exported_by_admin: exported_by_admin) }
 
       let(:import_export_upload) do
         create(
diff --git a/spec/workers/group_export_worker_spec.rb b/spec/workers/group_export_worker_spec.rb
index 54f9c38a506f056fbadf159c30e77125d81398ca..a4e5d45216c21134d4ed98571604393b5a0f8784 100644
--- a/spec/workers/group_export_worker_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/workers/group_export_worker_spec.rb
@@ -10,10 +10,14 @@
 
   describe '#perform' do
     context 'when it succeeds' do
-      it 'calls the ExportService' do
-        expect_any_instance_of(::Groups::ImportExport::ExportService).to receive(:execute)
+      it 'calls the ExportService correctly' do
+        expected_params = { group: group, user: user, exported_by_admin: false, params: {} }
 
-        subject.perform(user.id, group.id, {})
+        expect_next_instance_of(::Groups::ImportExport::ExportService, expected_params) do |service|
+          expect(service).to receive(:execute)
+        end
+
+        subject.perform(user.id, group.id, { exported_by_admin: false })
       end
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/workers/project_export_worker_spec.rb b/spec/workers/project_export_worker_spec.rb
index eaf1536da63d942cb5d52afeb1154fc47e64a2a9..4f053b4ccf579c0eb5d786e9b7fc69860dffaf6c 100644
--- a/spec/workers/project_export_worker_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/workers/project_export_worker_spec.rb
@@ -6,16 +6,19 @@
   it_behaves_like 'export worker'
 
   context 'exporters duration measuring' do
-    let(:user) { create(:user) }
-    let(:project) { create(:project) }
-    let(:worker) { described_class.new }
+    let_it_be_with_reload(:project) { create(:project) }
+    let_it_be(:user) { create(:user, owner_of: project) }
 
-    subject { worker.perform(user.id, project.id) }
+    let(:jid) { SecureRandom.hex(8) }
+    let(:params) { {} }
+    let(:worker) { described_class.new }
 
     before do
-      project.add_owner(user)
+      allow(worker).to receive(:jid).and_return(jid)
     end
 
+    subject(:perform) { worker.perform(user.id, project.id, {}, params) }
+
     it 'logs exporters execution duration' do
       expect(worker).to receive(:log_extra_metadata_on_done).with(:version_saver_duration_s, anything)
       expect(worker).to receive(:log_extra_metadata_on_done).with(:avatar_saver_duration_s, anything)
@@ -27,7 +30,35 @@
       expect(worker).to receive(:log_extra_metadata_on_done).with(:snippets_repo_saver_duration_s, anything)
       expect(worker).to receive(:log_extra_metadata_on_done).with(:design_repo_saver_duration_s, anything)
 
-      subject
+      perform
+    end
+
+    it 'creates a ProjectExportJob in the correct state' do
+      expect { perform }.to change { ProjectExportJob.count }.by(1)
+
+      expect(project.export_jobs).to contain_exactly(
+        have_attributes(
+          user: user,
+          exported_by_admin: false,
+          jid: jid,
+          status: 2
+        )
+      )
+    end
+
+    context 'when user was an admin' do
+      let(:params) { { exported_by_admin: true } }
+
+      it 'creates a ProjectExportJob in correct state' do
+        perform
+
+        expect(project.export_jobs).to contain_exactly(
+          have_attributes(
+            user: user,
+            exported_by_admin: true
+          )
+        )
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/workers/projects/import_export/create_relation_exports_worker_spec.rb b/spec/workers/projects/import_export/create_relation_exports_worker_spec.rb
index f3696c69f315911f09c5830e419c6e374a1800eb..852d35a4b00220d37eba2d8de70d1c1db8ddbe9a 100644
--- a/spec/workers/projects/import_export/create_relation_exports_worker_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/workers/projects/import_export/create_relation_exports_worker_spec.rb
@@ -3,20 +3,24 @@
 require 'spec_helper'
 
 RSpec.describe Projects::ImportExport::CreateRelationExportsWorker, feature_category: :importers do
+  let_it_be_with_reload(:project) { create(:project) }
   let_it_be(:user) { create(:user) }
-  let_it_be(:project) { create(:project) }
 
   let(:after_export_strategy) { {} }
-  let(:job_args) { [user.id, project.id, after_export_strategy] }
+  let(:params) { {} }
+  let(:jid) { SecureRandom.hex(8) }
+  let(:job_args) { [user.id, project.id, after_export_strategy, params] }
 
   before do
     allow_next_instance_of(described_class) do |job|
-      allow(job).to receive(:jid) { SecureRandom.hex(8) }
+      allow(job).to receive(:jid).and_return(jid)
     end
   end
 
   it_behaves_like 'an idempotent worker'
 
+  subject(:perform) {  described_class.new.perform(user.id, project.id, after_export_strategy, params) }
+
   context 'when job is re-enqueued after an interuption and same JID is used' do
     before do
       allow_next_instance_of(described_class) do |job|
@@ -29,13 +33,12 @@
     it 'does not start the export process twice' do
       project.export_jobs.create!(jid: 1234, status_event: :start)
 
-      expect { described_class.new.perform(user.id, project.id, after_export_strategy) }
-        .to change { Projects::ImportExport::WaitRelationExportsWorker.jobs.size }.by(0)
+      expect { perform }.not_to change { Projects::ImportExport::WaitRelationExportsWorker.jobs.size }
     end
   end
 
   it 'creates a export_job and sets the status to `started`' do
-    described_class.new.perform(user.id, project.id, after_export_strategy)
+    perform
 
     export_job = project.export_jobs.last
     expect(export_job.started?).to eq(true)
@@ -44,8 +47,7 @@
   it 'creates relation export records and enqueues a worker for each relation to be exported' do
     allow(Projects::ImportExport::RelationExport).to receive(:relation_names_list).and_return(%w[relation_1 relation_2])
 
-    expect { described_class.new.perform(user.id, project.id, after_export_strategy) }
-      .to change { Projects::ImportExport::RelationExportWorker.jobs.size }.by(2)
+    expect { perform }.to change { Projects::ImportExport::RelationExportWorker.jobs.size }.by(2)
 
     relation_exports = project.export_jobs.last.relation_exports
     expect(relation_exports.collect(&:relation)).to match_array(%w[relation_1 relation_2])
@@ -54,7 +56,7 @@
   it 'enqueues a WaitRelationExportsWorker' do
     allow(Projects::ImportExport::WaitRelationExportsWorker).to receive(:perform_in)
 
-    described_class.new.perform(user.id, project.id, after_export_strategy)
+    perform
 
     export_job = project.export_jobs.last
     expect(Projects::ImportExport::WaitRelationExportsWorker).to have_received(:perform_in).with(
@@ -64,4 +66,32 @@
       after_export_strategy
     )
   end
+
+  it 'creates a ProjectExportJob in the correct state' do
+    expect { perform }.to change { ProjectExportJob.count }.by(1)
+
+    expect(project.export_jobs).to contain_exactly(
+      have_attributes(
+        user: user,
+        exported_by_admin: false,
+        jid: jid,
+        status: 1
+      )
+    )
+  end
+
+  context 'when user was an admin' do
+    let(:params) { { exported_by_admin: true } }
+
+    it 'creates a ProjectExportJob in correct state' do
+      perform
+
+      expect(project.export_jobs).to contain_exactly(
+        have_attributes(
+          user: user,
+          exported_by_admin: true
+        )
+      )
+    end
+  end
 end