Last Updated on January 19, 2026 8:48 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held delegation-level talks with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at his official residence in New Delhi.
Briefing the media about the outcomes of the meeting, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that agreements were signed in the field of strategic defence partnership, joint initiatives on space infrastructure development and its commercialisation, and the UAE’s participation in the development of a special investment region in Dholera, Gujarat.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in New Delhi on January 19 at the invitation of PM Modi. This marked his fifth visit to India in the past decade and his third official visit since assuming office as President of the UAE.
During their meeting, the two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and expressed satisfaction over the steady strengthening of ties across political, economic, strategic and people-to-people domains. They noted that trade between the two countries has witnessed robust growth since the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022, reaching USD 100 billion in FY 2024–25.
To further boost economic engagement, both sides decided to intensify cooperation among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and called for the early implementation of initiatives such as Bharat Mart, the Virtual Trade Corridor and Bharat-Africa Setu to promote MSME products across West Asia, Africa and Eurasia.
The leaders welcomed progress under the Bilateral Investment Treaty signed in 2024 and explored potential UAE participation in the development of the Special Investment Region at Dholera in Gujarat. The proposed partnership could include strategic infrastructure such as an international airport, greenfield port, smart township, railway connectivity, energy infrastructure and aviation-related facilities. PM Modi also invited UAE sovereign wealth funds to participate in the second National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF) Infrastructure Fund, slated for launch in 2026.
Both sides highlighted growing financial cooperation, welcoming the establishment of DP World and First Abu Dhabi Bank branches in GIFT City, strengthening India’s position as an international financial hub.
Energy cooperation remained a key pillar of the partnership, with the leaders welcoming the signing of a 10-year LNG supply agreement between HPCL and ADNOC Gas for 0.5 million tonnes per annum beginning in 2028. They also agreed to explore cooperation in advanced nuclear technologies, including large reactors and Small Modular Reactors, following India’s enactment of the SHANTI law to facilitate civil nuclear collaboration.
The two countries agreed to expand cooperation in science, technology and innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence, supercomputing and data centres. They also discussed the possibility of establishing “Digital Embassies” under mutually recognised sovereignty arrangements. Sheikh Mohamed expressed support for the AI Impact Summit to be hosted by India in February 2026.
Space cooperation was identified as another emerging area, with both sides agreeing to collaborate on a joint initiative to promote commercialisation of space technologies and enable joint missions, start-ups and high-skilled employment.
The leaders reaffirmed strong defence and security cooperation and welcomed the signing of a Letter of Intent towards a Strategic Defence Partnership. They reiterated their zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and agreed to continue cooperation under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) framework to counter terror financing.
Cultural and people-to-people ties also featured prominently in the discussions. PM Modi welcomed the UAE’s decision to provide artefacts for the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, while both leaders agreed to establish a ‘House of India’ in Abu Dhabi as a symbol of bilateral friendship. Youth exchanges and educational cooperation, including greater university linkages and student mobility, were also encouraged.
The leaders exchanged views on regional and global issues, reaffirming their commitment to peace, stability and multilateral cooperation. The UAE conveyed its support for India’s BRICS Chairmanship in 2026, while India expressed support for the UAE’s co-hosting of the 2026 UN Water Conference.
The UAE President thanked PM Modi for the warm welcome and hospitality, underscoring the deep mutual trust and shared vision underpinning the India-UAE partnership.