Agencies | Abu-Dhabi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brief but high-impact visit to the United Arab Emirates on Friday resulted in major strategic and economic gains for India, with both countries signing agreements on defence cooperation, energy security and maritime infrastructure, alongside the announcement of $5 billion in UAE investments in Indian infrastructure and financial institutions.
The agreements were exchanged in the presence of PM Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during the Indian Prime Minister’s stop in Abu Dhabi, the opening leg of his five-nation diplomatic tour.
At the heart of the visit was a new framework agreement on a Strategic Defence Partnership, signalling a deeper expansion of military and security cooperation between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi amid rising geopolitical uncertainty in West Asia.
In the energy sector, India and the UAE signed a memorandum of understanding on Strategic Petroleum Reserves and also concluded an agreement for the supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), reinforcing India’s long-term energy security strategy and efforts to diversify supply sources.
The two countries also signed an MoU for the development of a ship repair cluster at Vadinar in Gujarat, a move expected to strengthen maritime infrastructure, logistics networks and industrial cooperation between the two strategic partners.
In a major economic announcement, the UAE committed investments worth $5 billion in Indian infrastructure projects, along with investments in RBL Bank and Samman Capital, reflecting continued global investor confidence in India’s economic growth trajectory.
During bilateral talks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, PM Modi emphasised the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing tensions in West Asia and reiterated India’s support for peace and regional stability.
“The impact of conflict in West Asia is being felt globally. India has always emphasised dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward,” Modi said.
He also highlighted the strategic importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz free and open, while stressing adherence to international law and the need for stability in global trade routes.
PM Modi praised the UAE leadership for its handling of regional challenges and thanked the country for its continued support to the Indian diaspora, stating that the Indian community in the UAE had been treated “like family.”
Reaffirming India’s solidarity with Abu Dhabi, the Prime Minister said India “stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the UAE in every situation” and would continue extending all possible support for restoring peace and stability in the region.
The UAE visit marks the beginning of PM Modi’s five-nation tour from May 15 to 20, aimed at strengthening India’s engagement with key Gulf and European partners in areas including trade, technology, energy, innovation and green growth.
Following Abu Dhabi, PM Modi is scheduled to visit the Netherlands for discussions focused on semiconductors, green hydrogen, defence cooperation and water management.
He will also travel to Sweden and Norway, where talks are expected to centre on artificial intelligence, green transition, emerging technologies and resilient supply chains, in addition to participation in the third India-Nordic Summit in Oslo.
