External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a meeting with Anwar Gargash, the Diplomatic Advisor to the UAE President today. He said, "Meeting Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic advisor to the UAE president, this morning was a pleasure. We talked about our unique partnership and its future advancements."
Foreign Minister Jaishankar is making an official trip to the UAE from January 27-29 to strengthen relations between India and the UAE and enhance bilateral cooperation.
India and the UAE have maintained robust diplomatic ties since 1972. The UAE inaugurated its embassy in India that year, and India followed by opening its embassy in the UAE in 1973. These relations have evolved over time into a strong and diverse partnership.
India-UAE relations saw a pivotal moment during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2015 visit to the UAE, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 34 years. This visit initiated a new era in bilateral ties, highlighted by the establishment of a comprehensive and strategic partnership.
Prime Minister Modi has made multiple visits to the UAE in recent years, with his latest trip being to Dubai for the COP28 World Climate Action Summit in November-December 2023.
In his capacity as the President of the UAE, he traveled to India in September 2023 for the G20 Leaders' Summit and took part in the second virtual Global South Summit in November 2023. Furthermore, he attended the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit as the Chief Guest in January 2024.
In addition to the visits by the Heads of State, there have been numerous Ministerial exchanges between India and the UAE. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has made multiple trips to the UAE, underscoring the strengthening diplomatic relations between the two nations. Moreover, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed has also visited India several times to boost bilateral cooperation.
The Indian expatriate community in the UAE is pivotal in the bilateral relationship, with approximately 3.5 million Indians residing there. This group is the largest ethnic community in the UAE, making up about 35 percent of the country's population.