THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 19, 2026

The visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, to India marked a defining moment in India–UAE relations, setting the stage for an ambitious expansion of cooperation across investment, defence, space, energy, technology and culture. A series of landmark agreements, letters of intent and strategic announcements underscored the shared vision of both nations to build a future-oriented partnership anchored in innovation, sustainability and economic growth.

A major highlight of the visit was the decision to pursue deep investment cooperation in Gujarat’s Dholera Special Investment Region, where the UAE will partner in the development of strategic infrastructure including an international airport, a greenfield port, advanced urban facilities, railway connectivity and energy infrastructure, positioning Dholera as a global manufacturing and logistics hub. The collaboration also extended into the space sector, with India and the UAE agreeing to jointly enable space industry development through shared infrastructure, launch and manufacturing facilities, incubation centres for start-ups, and training and exchange programmes that will accelerate commercial space opportunities.

Defence cooperation received a significant boost with both sides agreeing to work towards a comprehensive Strategic Defence Partnership Framework, expanding collaboration in defence manufacturing, advanced technologies, training, cyber security, counter-terrorism and interoperability. In the energy sector, India strengthened its long-term energy security through a 10-year agreement under which HPCL will purchase 0.5 million metric tonnes per annum of LNG from ADNOC Gas starting in 2028, reinforcing the UAE’s role as a reliable energy partner.

Agriculture and food trade also featured prominently, with a new understanding on food safety and technical standards aimed at facilitating smoother exports of Indian rice and agricultural products to the UAE, benefiting Indian farmers while contributing to the UAE’s food security. Looking to the future, both countries agreed in principle to collaborate on setting up a supercomputing cluster in India as part of the AI India Mission, enabling cutting-edge research and commercial applications for both public and private sectors.

The visit also saw an ambitious economic target being set, with India and the UAE agreeing to double bilateral trade to over US$ 200 billion by 2032, with a special focus on MSME linkages and digital trade platforms. Cooperation in civil nuclear energy was expanded, with both sides agreeing to explore partnerships in advanced nuclear technologies, including large reactors and small modular reactors, in line with India’s new SHANTI Act 2025.

Strengthening financial and logistics connectivity, UAE giants First Abu Dhabi Bank and DP World announced plans to establish operations in Gujarat’s GIFT City, enhancing trade finance, investment flows and global shipping operations. The two nations also agreed to explore the innovative concept of Digital or Data Embassies under mutually recognised sovereignty arrangements, reflecting growing trust in digital governance.

Cultural and people-to-people ties received equal emphasis, with agreement in principle to establish a ‘House of India’ in Abu Dhabi showcasing Indian art, heritage and archaeology, alongside initiatives to promote structured youth exchanges to deepen academic, research and cultural bonds.

Overall, the visit of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has elevated the India–UAE relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership for the future, blending economic ambition, technological collaboration and cultural connectivity, and reaffirming the enduring friendship between the two nations.