Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reviewed the full spectrum of India–UAE bilateral relations during the UAE President’s visit to India, culminating in a series of agreements, letters of intent and major strategic announcements.
The outcomes reflected a deepening of cooperation across investment, defence, energy, technology, space, food security and people-to-people ties.
MoUs and Letters of Intent
- One of the key outcomes was a Letter of Intent on Investment Cooperation between the Government of Gujarat and the UAE Ministry of Investment for the development of the Dholera Special Investment Region.
- The proposed partnership aims to involve UAE entities in building strategic infrastructure such as an international airport, a greenfield port, railway connectivity, energy infrastructure, a smart urban township, a pilot training school and an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility.
- In the space sector, a Letter of Intent was signed between IN-SPACe and the UAE Space Agency to promote joint space industry development and commercial collaboration. The initiative will focus on creating shared infrastructure, including launch complexes, manufacturing and technology zones, incubation and acceleration centres for space start-ups, training institutes and exchange programmes.
- India and the UAE also agreed to work towards a Strategic Defence Partnership Framework Agreement. The partnership will expand defence cooperation in areas such as defence industrial collaboration, advanced and emerging technologies, training and education, cyber security, counter-terrorism, special operations and interoperability.
- In the energy sector, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) signed a Sales and Purchase Agreement with ADNOC Gas for the long-term supply of liquefied natural gas. Under the agreement, HPCL will import 0.5 million metric tonnes of LNG annually for a period of ten years beginning in 2028.
- To strengthen food trade and food security, a Memorandum of Understanding on Food Safety and Technical Requirements was signed between APEDA and the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
- The MoU establishes sanitary and quality standards to facilitate Indian exports of rice and other agricultural and food products to the UAE, benefiting Indian farmers while supporting the UAE’s food security goals.
Major Announcements
- Among the key announcements was an agreement in principle between C-DAC India and UAE-based technology firm G42 to collaborate on establishing a supercomputing cluster in India.
- The facility will form part of the AI India Mission and will be accessible to both public and private sectors for research, application development and commercial use.
- Both sides also set an ambitious target to double bilateral trade to over US$ 200 billion by 2032. The focus will be on strengthening MSME linkages and expanding market access through initiatives such as Bharat Mart, the Virtual Trade Corridor, and Bharat-Africa Setu.
- In the civil nuclear domain, India and the UAE agreed to promote bilateral civil nuclear cooperation, leveraging opportunities under India’s SHANTI Act 2025. Cooperation will include advanced nuclear technologies, large reactors, Small Modular Reactors, plant operations, maintenance and nuclear safety.
- Financial and logistics cooperation will deepen with First Abu Dhabi Bank and DP World setting up offices and operations in GIFT City, Gujarat. FAB’s presence is expected to enhance trade and investment flows, while DP World will manage ship leasing operations for its global business from the financial hub.
- The two countries also agreed to explore the establishment of Digital or Data Embassies under mutually recognised sovereignty arrangements, reflecting growing cooperation in digital governance and data security.
- Cultural ties received a boost with an agreement in principle to establish a ‘House of India’ in Abu Dhabi, envisioned as a flagship cultural space showcasing Indian art, heritage and archaeology.
- Additionally, both sides agreed to promote youth exchanges, including reciprocal visits by youth delegations to enhance academic collaboration, cultural understanding and long-term people-to-people engagement.
