Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to personally receive UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan at the airport underscores the high priority India accords to its bilateral relationship with the United Arab Emirates. Since its formation, the UAE—a Muslim-majority nation—has shared warm and cordial ties with India, while also recognizing India’s growing importance in West Asia and broader regional affairs. Although Sheikh Mohammed’s visit to New Delhi was brief, lasting only four hours, its international significance was substantial in the current global context. This is particularly evident against the backdrop of recently strengthened defense and strategic ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which further highlights the distinct and independent value of India–UAE relations.
Despite recent tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over developments in Yemen, India has maintained a neutral stance and continues to evaluate its relationship with the UAE on its own merits, firmly rejecting the influence of third parties in shaping bilateral ties. In a rapidly changing global environment, it is essential for India to periodically reassess its foreign relations. This is especially relevant in light of former US President Donald Trump’s invitation to India to join a regional peace initiative concerning the Gaza conflict in West Asia, a move with potentially far-reaching implications.
India has traditionally supported Palestinian independence while simultaneously maintaining strong relations with Israel, making a balanced and pragmatic approach to the Gaza issue vital for regional stability. At the same time, India cannot overlook the expanding influence and role of the UAE in West Asia. Strengthening ties with the UAE is therefore crucial not only for India’s strategic interests but also for broader regional development. The UAE’s willingness to leverage global resources for comprehensive development further enhances its importance as a partner.
In this context, it is also the responsibility of the Indian government to safeguard the interests of the large Indian diaspora contributing to the UAE’s growth. The recent construction of a Hindu temple in this Muslim-majority country stands as a powerful symbol of the UAE government’s respect for and recognition of the Indian community residing there.
During Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s brief four-hour visit to India, the two countries signed 12 agreements spanning various sectors, from defense to trade, demonstrating the continuous progress in their multifaceted relationship. Dubai, the metropolis of the UAE, is becoming a major global center for trade, with significant Indian participation. Currently, bilateral trade between the two countries stands at $100 billion annually, a figure that both leaders aim to double to $200 billion by 2032. India also imports large quantities of natural gas from the UAE, and effective steps have been taken to further increase these imports. India will also provide extensive cooperation to the UAE in the field of electricity generation through nuclear energy, including the installation of small nuclear reactors, and will launch joint ventures in the space sector. This cooperation will extend from artificial intelligence to defense. The armed forces of both India and the UAE have been conducting joint exercises, which will be expanded within a comprehensive security framework. The UAE government will continue to supply natural gas to India for the next ten years. Following this brief visit, a joint statement was issued by both countries, reaffirming their commitment to enhancing mutual cooperation. The statement emphasized that the leaders of both countries respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and uphold autonomy. Both countries consider their growing strategic and defense cooperation to be of paramount importance and a strong pillar of their bilateral relations. The statement also highlighted the recent visits of the chiefs of the army, navy, and air force of both countries to each other’s nations as highly significant and praised the developing strategic ties.
In this context, we must also consider the defense agreement signed last year between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which stipulated that an external attack on one country would be considered an attack on the other. During this visit, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations, the situation in Iran and Yemen, and the Gaza peace process. Both leaders supported efforts to promote regional peace and security. Regarding economic and commercial matters, both countries support and wish to cooperate in the field of advanced nuclear technology. They also aim to expand cooperation in the area of digital payments. In this regard, an agreement was reached to establish a joint “data embassy,” and both countries also agreed on the construction of a “House of India” in Abu Dhabi.
