Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held wide-ranging talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a short but substantive two-hour visit to India, with cooperation on nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, defence, energy security and counter-terrorism emerging as key focus areas.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the two leaders, who share an extremely warm and close relationship, held discussions at both restricted and delegation levels. Several agreements and letters of intent were exchanged in the presence of the two leaders, reflecting the depth and breadth of the India-UAE partnership. The UAE delegation included members of the Abu Dhabi and Dubai royal families and senior ministers, including Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of the UAE.
Energy security featured prominently in the discussions. India and the UAE welcomed the signing of a 10-year LNG supply agreement between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and ADNOC Gas for the delivery of 0.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually from 2028. The agreement positions the UAE as one of India’s largest LNG suppliers, with both sides underscoring the UAE’s growing role in supporting India’s long-term energy needs amid global volatility.
Civil nuclear cooperation emerged as a significant addition to the bilateral agenda. The two sides agreed to explore partnerships in advanced nuclear technologies, including the development and deployment of large nuclear reactors and Small Modular Reactors. Officials said India’s SHANTI law has opened new avenues for international collaboration in nuclear energy, with cooperation also expected in advanced reactor systems, nuclear power plant operations and maintenance, and nuclear safety.
Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies were identified as priority areas for collaboration. The two countries agreed to work together on setting up a supercomputing cluster in India and to explore UAE investments in data centre capacity. They also decided to examine the establishment of digital embassies based on mutually recognised sovereignty for digital infrastructure. Sheikh Mohamed expressed support for India hosting the AI Impact Summit in February 2026.
Defence cooperation received a boost with the signing of a Letter of Intent to work towards concluding a framework agreement for a Strategic Defence Partnership. The leaders noted the momentum generated by recent exchanges between service chiefs and the conduct of bilateral military exercises. Both sides unequivocally condemned terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, and agreed that perpetrators, financiers and supporters must be brought to justice. They reaffirmed continued cooperation within the framework of the Financial Action Task Force to counter terror financing and money laundering.
Economic cooperation formed another core pillar of the talks. Bilateral trade has reached 100 billion dollars in the 2024–25 financial year since the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in 2022, and the two sides agreed to target 200 billion dollars in trade by 2032. They also reviewed progress on investment initiatives, including discussions on UAE participation in the development of the Special Investment Region in Dholera, Gujarat, covering infrastructure such as an international airport, a greenfield port, energy facilities and a smart urban township.
The leaders directed officials to accelerate initiatives such as Bharat Mart, the Virtual Trade Corridor and Bharat-Africa Setu to connect MSMEs across West Asia, Africa and Eurasia. Cooperation in the space sector was also discussed, with both sides agreeing to deepen collaboration through a joint initiative aimed at commercialising space science and technology, including launch facilities and satellite fabrication.
Food security and agriculture cooperation featured in the talks, with an emphasis on sustainable supply chains and public-private partnerships. An upcoming memorandum of understanding on food safety and technical standards is expected to benefit Indian farmers while strengthening food resilience in the UAE.
People-to-people ties were highlighted, with both sides noting that around 4.5 million Indians live in the UAE. The leaders agreed to promote youth exchanges and decided to establish a House of India in Abu Dhabi as a cultural and heritage space.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments, reiterating their support for peace and stability in West Asia. The UAE conveyed its support for India’s BRICS chairmanship in 2026, while India backed the UAE-hosted UN Water Conference scheduled for later that year. Sheikh Mohamed thanked Prime Minister Modi for the warm reception, describing the visit as another step in the steady expansion of India-UAE strategic ties.
