India-UAE Partnership Set for Major Strategic Expansion as Prime Minister Narendra Modi Visits Abu Dhabi

The visit follows a year of intensified diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi. The momentum was most recently reinforced during Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to New Delhi in January this year. The visit marked the UAE President’s fifth trip to India in the past decade and his third official visit since assuming office as President of the United Arab Emirates.

During the January discussions, the two leaders reviewed the full scope of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and witnessed the exchange of several significant agreements aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation. Among the most notable developments was the signing of a letter of intent to work toward a formal Strategic Defence Partnership, a move regarded as a major advancement in security and defence relations between the two countries.

Energy cooperation also emerged as a key pillar of the expanding partnership. Earlier this year, ADNOC Gas and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited signed a ten-year liquefied natural gas supply agreement estimated to be worth three billion US dollars. The agreement is expected to strengthen India’s long-term energy security while reinforcing the UAE’s role as a critical energy partner.

Both nations also reiterated their commitment to significantly increasing economic engagement. India and the UAE have set a target to expand bilateral trade to 200 billion US dollars by 2032, building upon the progress achieved under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. In another major technological initiative, the two sides agreed to cooperate on establishing a supercomputing cluster in India, reflecting a growing focus on advanced technology collaboration.

The UAE currently stands as India’s second-largest export destination, with Indian exports reaching 37 billion US dollars. The relationship between the two countries is also strengthened by strong people-to-people ties, with more than four million Indians residing in the Emirates and contributing significantly to the economic and social fabric of the Gulf nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit is expected to further reinforce the strategic depth of India-UAE relations, underscoring the growing importance of the partnership in regional stability, economic expansion, energy cooperation, and technological advancement