India, UAE expand ties in defence, tech, sign LNG deal
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in New Delhi on Monday for a brief but closely watched official visit, underscoring the growing strategic depth of India-UAE relations at a time of significant geopolitical flux in West Asia. The visit, which lasted around two hours, took place at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who personally received the UAE leader, highlighting the warmth and importance attached to the bilateral relationship.
India and the United Arab Emirates on Monday unveiled plans to have a strategic defence partnership and sealed an LNG deal as PM Modi and UAE President Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan set a USD 200 billion annual trade target by 2032 while laying out a broad agenda to shore up the ties. Modi welcomed Al Nahyan at the Delhi airport with a hug and then they travelled together in the same vehicle to the prime minister's residence, where they held talks in the restricted as well as delegation-level formats.
Out of the five documents inked by the two sides, the most striking one was the letter of intent to establish a strategic defence partnership, a move that came four months after Pakistan and Saudi Arabia sealed a defence pact to strengthen their decades-long defence ties.
Under the defence partnership, India and the UAE are eyeing defence industrial collaboration and cooperation in advanced technologies, cyberspace training, special operations, interoperability of their militaries and counter terrorism.
Another pact was inked to provide for the purchase of 0.5 million metric tonnes of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Gas over a period of 10 years starting 2028. The UAE is India's second-largest supplier of LNG to India after Qatar.
The two sides also decided to explore collaboration in advanced nuclear technologies, including the development of large nuclear reactors and small modular reactors, as well as cooperation in advanced reactor systems, nuclear power plant operations and maintenance and nuclear safety.
One major factor shaping the timing of the visit is renewed diplomatic activity surrounding the Gaza conflict. The United States is preparing to move forward with the next phase of its Gaza Peace Plan, which envisages the formation of a National Committee to oversee governance and reconstruction in the territory following a reduction in hostilities. Washington has been consulting key regional actors to secure political and financial support for this framework, with Arab states seen as central to its implementation.
The UAE has been actively engaged in regional diplomacy related to Gaza, maintaining dialogue with the United States, Israel, and Arab partners. These developments are expected to form part of the broader strategic discussions in New Delhi, given India's interest in regional stability and humanitarian outcomes.
Another element of the regional context is the ongoing unrest in Iran, where protests across several cities have drawn international attention. The situation has prompted increased diplomatic pressure on Tehran from the United States, even as some Arab countries have urged caution against any escalation that could destabilise the region or disrupt energy markets and maritime routes.
For the UAE, which shares maritime proximity with Iran, stability across the Gulf remains a core priority. India, too, has strategic stakes in Iran linked to energy security, connectivity projects, and regional balance. The evolving situation adds another layer of complexity to regional diplomacy surrounding the visit.
The trip also coincides with subtle but important shifts within the Gulf itself. Relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, long viewed as closely aligned, have shown signs of divergence in recent years. Differences over regional conflicts, energy policy within OPEC+, and broader strategic ambitions have led to a more nuanced and less unified Gulf landscape.
For partners like India, this means engaging Gulf states on a more differentiated, bilateral basis rather than as a cohesive bloc. The Saudi-UAE divergence forms an understated but relevant backdrop to diplomatic engagements across the region.Adding to the broader strategic picture are reports of emerging security coordination involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey. While details remain limited, such discussions are being closely monitored for their potential impact on regional and South Asian security dynamics.
Against this backdrop, President bin Zayed's short visit reflects the maturity of India-UAE ties, which now span trade, energy, defence, technology, and strategic dialogue. The visit highlights how even brief engagements can carry significant diplomatic weight amid an increasingly complex regional environment.President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in India at a time of heightened diplomatic activity in West Asia, underscoring the growing momentum in India-UAE relations. The visit, undertaken at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reflects the increasing frequency of high-level engagement between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.
Prime Minister Modi said the visit underlined the importance the UAE leadership attaches to its partnership with India. The two leaders later met at the Prime Minister's residence, holding discussions in both restricted and expanded formats. As part of the welcome, traditional Indian gifts highlighting cultural heritage and people-to-people ties were exchanged.According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the talks focused on strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, reviewing ongoing cooperation, and exchanging views on regional and global issues. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described the visit as brief but highly substantive, noting it was accompanied by a senior UAE delegation.The visit marked Sheikh Mohamed's third trip to India as UAE President and his fifth in a decade, highlighting the depth and continuity of bilateral ties across political, economic, and strategic domains.
