New Delhi/ Abu Dhabi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for the United Arab Emirates on Friday as part of his five-nation diplomatic tour, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) projecting India-UAE ties as a rapidly expanding strategic partnership spanning trade, defence, energy, technology and connectivity. Ahead of the visit, the MEA highlighted the transformation of bilateral ties into what it described as a “close, strategic and wide-ranging” relationship, underlining growing cooperation in economic investments, maritime security, renewable energy and emerging technologies.
Sharing a video presentation on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal outlined the evolution of India-UAE relations since the two countries elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017. The presentation stressed that the relationship had expanded far beyond traditional trade and energy engagement to include strategic and technological cooperation. According to the MEA, UAE foreign direct investment in India has crossed USD 22 billion since 2000, reflecting the Gulf nation’s growing economic footprint in India. The ministry also highlighted the robust energy partnership between the two countries, alongside increasing collaboration in the defence and security sectors.
Among the major defence initiatives cited was the 2024 “Gulf Waves” naval exercise, seen as a reflection of deepening maritime and strategic coordination between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi. The MEA also pointed to the UAE’s participation in the Global Biofuels Alliance launched in 2023, signalling growing cooperation in sustainable and future-oriented energy sectors.
India-UAE eye USD 200 billion trade target
Ahead of Modi’s arrival, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy said bilateral ties were entering a new phase of expansion, with both countries now aiming to achieve USD 200 billion in trade after surpassing the USD 100 billion milestone under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Al Hashimy described the India-UAE relationship as one driven by close coordination between “Team India and Team UAE”, saying the two countries had consistently unlocked new opportunities for cooperation.
She said CEPA, signed in 2022, had become a landmark agreement that not only accelerated trade growth but also laid the foundation for wider collaboration in advanced sectors.
According to her, the partnership is increasingly centred on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, supercomputing and digital infrastructure. She also highlighted cooperation linked to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which seeks to strengthen regional connectivity and trade routes.
“What I can say with confidence is that Team India and Team UAE work closely together. We uncover and unlock more potential,” she said while speaking about the expanding scope of cooperation.
Strategic partnership driven by strong diaspora ties
India and the UAE today share one of the most significant strategic relationships in West Asia, with cooperation extending across trade, infrastructure, fintech, defence, energy security and regional stability. The UAE remains among India’s top trading partners and a major source of energy imports and investments. The relationship has also been strengthened through frequent high-level engagement between Prime Minister Modi and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Following the PM Modi-Al Nahyan talks, India and the UAE are expected to firm up two significant pacts to boost cooperation in the areas of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and strategic petroleum reserves. People-to-people ties continue to remain a central pillar of the partnership. More than three million Indians live and work in the UAE, making them the country’s largest expatriate community and an important bridge between the two nations. Modi’s UAE visit forms part of a broader diplomatic outreach aimed at strengthening India’s strategic and economic partnerships across key regions amid shifting geopolitical and economic realities.
Modi’s five-nation diplomatic tour from May 15 to May 20 will cover the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy, with discussions focused on energy security, trade, technology, connectivity and strategic cooperation.
