In a significant development aimed at strengthening ties between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on 9th September 2024. The high-level meeting, which took place during the Crown Prince’s two-day official visit to India, focused on expanding the already robust bilateral relationship between the two nations.
During the discussions, the two leaders reviewed the substantial progress made in recent years under the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They explored new avenues to further deepen cooperation across various sectors, including nuclear energy, critical minerals, green hydrogen, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge technologies. The meeting underscored the shared commitment to advancing economic and commercial ties, leveraging recent milestones such as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). Posting on the social media platform X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted the significance of the meeting. “India-UAE ties are taking greater strides! PM Narendra Modi met with HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi today. The two leaders discussed the multifaceted India-UAE relations and avenues to broaden the comprehensive strategic partnership to new and emerging areas,” Jaiswal wrote.
In an official statement, the MEA elaborated on the meeting, noting that Prime Minister Modi conveyed his warm greetings to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The MEA emphasized that the leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress made in bilateral relations and recognized the potential for further expansion. “The success of the CEPA and the recent entry into force of the BIT will provide further impetus to the strong economic and commercial partnership between the two countries,” the MEA stated. “They also underscored the need to explore new areas of untapped potential, particularly in nuclear energy, critical minerals, green hydrogen, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge technologies.”
The Crown Prince’s visit also included a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where discussions centered on the historic and comprehensive ties between India and the UAE. President Murmu expressed her gratitude to the UAE leadership for hosting more than 3.5 million Indians, highlighting the deep cultural and social connections between the two countries. In a symbolic gesture, the Crown Prince visited Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, continuing a tradition followed by his predecessors. According to the MEA, “He became the third-generation leader from the UAE to plant a sapling at Rajghat, following His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, former President of the UAE in 1992; and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE in 2016.” The MEA remarked that this unique occasion underscored the generational continuity of the strong relationship between the two nations.
The visit also witnessed the signing of several key agreements, further solidifying the partnership between India and the UAE. These included a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of Barakah Nuclear Power Plant Operations and Maintenance between Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), as well as an agreement for long-term LNG supply between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited.
Other agreements encompassed an MoU between ADNOC and India Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL), a Production Concession Agreement for Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1 between Urja Bharat and ADNOC, and an MoU between the Government of Gujarat and Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company PJSC (ADQ) on the development of food parks in India. The visit by the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince is seen as a further reinforcement of the strong India-UAE bilateral relations. The MEA noted that the visit would open avenues for partnership in new and emerging areas, continuing the trajectory of deepening cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including political, trade, investment, connectivity, energy, technology, education, and culture. As the two nations move forward, the strengthening of ties between India and the UAE is expected to bring about significant benefits, not just bilaterally but also for the broader region, marking a new chapter in the long-standing relationship between these strategic partners.
