UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, popularly known as MBZ, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest.
This marks his third official visit as UAE President and his fifth visit to India in the past decade, with the current visit lasting three hours.
Prime Minister Modi personally received MBZ at the New Delhi airport, emphasising the close ties between the two countries. The visit, made at Modi’s invitation, comes amid heightened developments in West Asia and provides an opportunity to chart new directions for bilateral cooperation.
Prime Minister Modi took to social media platform X, welcoming UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, popularly known as MBZ, with the message: "Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. His visit underscores the strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions."
Modi shared photographs of the two leaders, including one of them seated in a car and another showing a warm embrace. The PM later hosted MBZ and his family at his official residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi (India).
As part of the traditional Indian welcome, Modi presented MBZ with a hand-carved Royal Carved Wooden Jhula from Gujarat, symbolising togetherness and bonding. He also gifted a handmade Kashmiri Pashmina shawl from Telangana, with a similar shawl given to Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, along with Kashmiri saffron in an ornate silver box.
Focus on bilateral partnership
Prime Minister Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a two-hour, substantive meeting in India, focusing on nuclear reactors, AI, defence, energy security, and counter-terrorism.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri noted that the two leaders, who share a "warm and close relationship," held both restricted and delegation-level talks. Several agreements and letters of intent were exchanged, highlighting the strong India-UAE partnership.
The UAE delegation included members of the Abu Dhabi and Dubai royal families, along with key ministers, such as Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Energy security was a key focus, with India and the UAE celebrating a 10-year LNG supply agreement between Hindustan Petroleum and ADNOC Gas, making the UAE one of India’s largest LNG suppliers. The deal highlights the UAE’s growing role in supporting India’s energy needs amid global volatility.
The two leaders also discussed civil nuclear cooperation, agreeing to explore partnerships in advanced nuclear technologies, including large reactors and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). This follows India’s SHANTI law, opening new doors for international collaboration in nuclear energy.
AI and emerging technologies were also prioritised, with both nations agreeing to collaborate on a supercomputing cluster in India and exploring UAE investments in data centres. The concept of "Digital Embassies" was discussed, with Sheikh Mohamed expressing support for India’s AI Impact Summit in 2026.
Defence cooperation received a boost with a Letter of Intent for a Strategic Defence Partnership, while both sides condemned terrorism and pledged continued cooperation within the FATF framework to counter terror financing.
Economic cooperation was a key focus, with India-UAE bilateral trade reaching $100 billion in FY 2024–25, following the 2022 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The two sides aim to double trade to $200 billion by 2032.
They discussed UAE involvement in developing the Special Investment Region in Dholera, Gujarat, covering infrastructure such as an international airport, Greenfield port, and energy facilities. Additionally, both countries agreed to speed up initiatives like Bharat Mart and the Virtual Trade Corridor to connect MSMEs across West Asia, Africa, and Eurasia.
The leaders also agreed to strengthen space cooperation, focusing on commercialising space science and technology, and discussed enhancing food security through sustainable supply chains and public-private partnerships. A MoU on food safety is expected to support Indian farmers and strengthen UAE food resilience.
People-to-people ties were also emphasised, with discussions on promoting youth exchanges and establishing a ‘House of India’ in Abu Dhabi. Both sides supported each other’s key regional and global initiatives, with the UAE backing India’s BRICS chairmanship in 2026 and India supporting the UAE-hosted UN Water Conference.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed gratitude for the warm reception, marking the visit as a step forward in expanding India-UAE strategic ties.
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EU leaders to attend Republic Day celebrations amid trade deal talks
With UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visiting India just ahead of the 77th Republic Day, the occasion looks set for positive developments. Meanwhile, India and the European Union are set to announce the conclusion of negotiations on a long-pending free trade agreement (FTA) at a summit in New Delhi on January 27, coinciding with Republic Day. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has called it the "mother of all trade deals," capping nearly two decades of talks. The deal is expected to be signed soon after legal clearances.
A small military contingent from the EU will also take part in the Republic Day parade, marking the first time an EU force has joined the event. EU leaders, including President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, will be in India from January 25 to 27 for the summit, which will focus on trade, security, and diplomacy.
The FTA, India’s largest and most complex trade agreement, spans goods, services, and trade rules across the EU’s 27-member customs union. The deal follows years of stalled negotiations over issues like automobiles, intellectual property, and public procurement. The breakthrough came in 2022, with both sides narrowing their focus and prioritizing an executable agreement, excluding sensitive topics like agriculture.
