India–UAE
Elevate Comprehensive Strategic Partnership During President Mohamed bin
Zayed’s 2026 Visit
·
High-level visit: UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
visited India on 19
January 2026, his fifth visit in a decade and third as
President, reaffirming the depth of bilateral ties.
·
Strategic partnership strengthened: Leaders reviewed broad
cooperation and endorsed outcomes of recent investment, joint commission and strategic dialogue
meetings.
·
Trade ambitions: Bilateral trade reached US$100 billion in FY 2024–25
under CEPA; both sides set an ambitious target of US$200 billion by 2032.
·
MSME and trade facilitation: Push to connect MSMEs
via initiatives such as Bharat
Mart, Virtual Trade Corridor and Bharat–Africa Setu.
·
Investment and infrastructure: Progress under the 2024 Bilateral Investment Treaty;
discussions on UAE partnership in Dholera Special Investment Region
and invitation to UAE sovereign funds for NIIF’s second Infrastructure Fund (2026).
·
Finance and GIFT City: Welcomed DP World and First Abu Dhabi Bank
branches in GIFT City; FAB to serve as a bridge to GCC–MENA markets.
·
Food security cooperation: Reaffirmed commitment
to resilient supply chains through public-private
partnerships, innovation and knowledge exchange.
·
Space, AI and digital cooperation: Agreement to deepen
collaboration in space
commercialisation, AI
and emerging technologies, explore data centres, a supercomputing cluster,
and potential Digital
Embassies; UAE supported India’s AI Impact Summit (Feb 2026).
·
Energy and nuclear: Signed 10-year LNG deal (0.5 MTPA from 2028)
between HPCL and ADNOC Gas;
agreed to explore cooperation in advanced
nuclear technologies, including SMRs, under India’s SHANTI law.
·
Payments and finance: Directed efforts to interlink national payment systems
for faster cross-border transactions.
·
Culture, education and people-to-people ties: UAE to contribute
artefacts to Lothal
Maritime Heritage Complex; decision to establish a House of India in Abu Dhabi;
expansion of student
exchanges, offshore IIT/IIM campuses, Digilocker–UAE integration, and
Innovation Labs.
·
Defence and security: Reaffirmed strong
defence cooperation; welcomed momentum in exercises and visits; signed Letter of Intent toward a Strategic
Defence Partnership; reiterated zero tolerance for terrorism
and cooperation via FATF.
·
Regional and multilateral cooperation: Recalled IMEC launch; UAE backed India’s BRICS Chairmanship 2026;
India supported UAE’s co-hosting of the 2026
UN Water Conference.
·
Science and climate: Agreed to deepen
cooperation in polar
science to support climate research and evidence-based action.
Bottom line: The visit marked a significant expansion
of India–UAE ties across trade, investment, energy, technology, defence and
people-to-people links, setting ambitious economic and strategic goals for the
coming decade.
Joint Statement: Visit of
President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to India
At
the invitation of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, President of the
United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, paid an
official visit to India on 19 January 2026. This was the fifth visit of His
Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India in the last ten years and
his third official visit to India as the President of the UAE.
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan reviewed the full scope of bilateral cooperation between the two
countries. They agreed that the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
has continued to strengthen over the past decade.
The
two leaders welcomed the visits of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, His Highness
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Crown Prince of Dubai,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh
Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to India in the last two years,
noting that these visits marked generational continuity of the bilateral
relationship.
The
two leaders endorsed the outcomes of the 13th High-Level Task Force on
Investments held in September 2025, and the 16th India-UAE Joint Commission
Meeting and 5th Strategic Dialogue held in December 2025.
The
two leaders welcomed the robust growth in trade and economic cooperation since
the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022
and noted the rapid growth of bilateral trade, which reached US$ 100 billion in
FY 2024-25. Buoyed by the enthusiasm of the business communities on both sides,
they decided to double bilateral trade to target US$ 200 billion by 2032.
They
directed their teams to work towards connecting Micro, Small and Medium Sector
Enterprises (MSMEs) on both sides. In this context, they called for the
expeditious implementation of key initiatives, such as the ‘Bharat Mart’, the
‘Virtual Trade Corridor’ and the ‘Bharat-Africa Setu’ to promote MSME products
across the Middle East, West Asia, Africa and the Eurasia region.
The
leaders expressed satisfaction that the Bilateral Investment Treaty signed in
2024 has further strengthened investment flows across multiple sectors in both
countries. They welcomed discussions on a potential UAE partnership for the
development of the Special Investment Region in Dholera,
Gujarat. The envisioned partnership would include the development of key
strategic infrastructure, including an international airport, a pilot training
school, a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, a greenfield port, a
smart urban township, railway connectivity, and energy infrastructure.
Highlighting the success of the first NIIF Infrastructure Fund, the Prime
Minister of India invited UAE sovereign wealth funds to consider participation
in the second Infrastructure Fund, scheduled for launch in 2026. The two
leaders welcomed the establishment of DP World and First Abu Dhabi Bank
branches in GIFT City, reinforcing its emergence as a leading international
financial center. FAB’s GIFT City branch will act as a
key bridge, connecting Indian corporates and investors to its expertise and
global network across the GCC and MENA markets.
Both
sides reaffirmed their strong commitment to enhancing UAE–India cooperation in
food security, recognising its strategic importance in ensuring sustainable
supply chains and long-term resilience. They underscored the role of
public-private partnerships, innovation and knowledge exchange in advancing
sustainable agriculture and enhancing national food resilience in line with the
national priorities of both countries.
The
two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation in space sector. In this context, they
welcomed the understanding reached to collaborate on a joint initiative aimed
at driving commercialisation of the sector through the advancement of space
sciences and technologies. This initiative aims to produce an integrated space
ecosystem with end-to-end infrastructure and a strong industrial base. It aims
to enable India–UAE joint missions, expand global commercial services, create
high-skilled employment and start-ups and strengthen bilateral investment
through sustainable business models.
The
two leaders decided to strengthen collaboration in science and technology and
innovation, especially in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI) and
emerging technologies. Welcoming the decision to collaborate on the
establishment of a supercomputing cluster in India, they also agreed to explore
cooperation in setting up data centres in India. The two leaders directed their
teams to explore the possibility of establishing ‘Digital Embassies’ between
the UAE and India, under mutually recognised sovereignty arrangements.
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed support for
the AI Impact Summit to be hosted in India in February 2026.
The
two leaders expressed satisfaction with the strength of the bilateral energy
partnership and underscored the UAE’s contribution to India’s energy security.
They welcomed signing a 10-year LNG Supply Agreement between Hindustan
Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and ADNOC Gas for the delivery of 0.5
million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas, beginning in 2028. The
leaders also welcomed the enactment of the Sustainable Harnessing and
Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) law, noting that
it creates new opportunities for enhanced civil nuclear cooperation. The two
sides agreed to explore partnership in advanced nuclear technologies, including
development and deployment of large nuclear reactors and Small Modular Reactors
(SMRs), as well as cooperation in advanced reactor systems, nuclear power plant
operations and maintenance and nuclear safety.
The
two leaders appreciated the deepening financial sector cooperation between the
two countries. They directed their teams to work towards interlinking the
national payment platforms to enable efficient, fast and cost-effective
cross-border payments.
Recognising
the shared cultural and historical heritage between the two countries, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the UAE’s decision to provide artefacts for the
National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal. The two leaders decided to
establish a ‘House of India’ in Abu Dhabi as a lasting symbol of the India-UAE
friendship. They also agreed to continue nurturing vibrant people-to-people
ties through youth exchanges aimed at further deepening cultural understanding.
The
leaders identified education as a cornerstone of India-UAE partnership.
Building on the opening of the offshore campuses of Indian Institute of
Technology Delhi and the Indian Institute of Management–Ahmedabad in the UAE,
they encouraged greater efforts to promote linkages between universities and
educational institutions in both countries and expand student exchanges, which
will serve as a knowledge bridge between the two countries. It will include
cooperation in expanding Innovation and Tinkering Labs in schools and colleges.
The leaders welcomed the understanding reached to work towards integrating
India’s Digilocker with the UAE platforms for
seamless authentication of Indian academic degrees/ documents, which will
promote greater economic and educational opportunities and ease of living.
The
leaders highlighted deep respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity and the importance of strategic autonomy. They acknowledged steady
and strong bilateral defence and security cooperation as a core pillar of the
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They welcomed the momentum generated by
the recent exchange of visits by the respective Service Chiefs and Commanders
of the Army, Navy and Air Force of both countries, and the successful conduct
of bilateral military exercises. They welcomed the signing of Letter of Intent
towards the conclusion of a Strategic Defence Partnership.
The
two leaders reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and emphasised that
no country should provide safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or
commit terrorist acts. They agreed to continue cooperation within the framework
of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to counter terror financing and
strengthen anti-money laundering efforts.
The
two leaders recalled the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic
Corridor (IMEC) on the margins of the G20 summit in Delhi in September 2023.
The
two leaders exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
They underlined their shared interest in regional peace, security and
stability. They noted excellent cooperation and mutual support at multilateral
and plurilateral fora. The UAE side conveyed its full support for the success
of India's BRICS Chairmanship in 2026. The Indian side conveyed its support for
the 2026 UN Water Conference, to be co-hosted by the UAE at the end of 2026,
which will focus on accelerating the implementation of SDG 6, ensuring the
availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Both
sides highlighted their collaboration in polar science and noted the positive
outcomes of joint expeditions and institutional cooperation. Both sides agreed
to further advance this partnership through targeted scientific initiatives,
coordinated research planning and strengthened collaboration between national
polar research institutions. They emphasised that continued cooperation in the
polar regions would support evidence-based climate action and contributes to
global scientific efforts.
President
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan thanked Prime Minister Narendra
Modi for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality.